How I Found Peace

I was raised as a Roman Catholic and attended Catholic grammar school. As I reached my teen years, I began to drift away from the Catholic church and its teachings. I went through mainly rebellious times into my early twenties, using drugs, etc. My mom died of cancer when I was 21 years old (1980), which got me thinking about life and death and spiritual things. I began to try to clean up my life, quitting drugs and alcohol. I applied myself to my work and talked to people that seemed "spiritual" to me. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I somehow knew that there must be a purpose to life.

At age 23, I began taking classes at a local community college. I had decided to follow in my Dad's footsteps as a Chiropractor. My grades were good and there seemed to be some optimism about the future. Still, there seemed to be an emptiness in my soul. I returned to drinking and partying and relationships, but I knew from my past that these things would not satisfy the hunger in my soul.

When I was 24, I met Sherry, my wife-to-be in school. We met in September, began dating seriously in January and were engaged in March. I was never so in love in my life! Of course, we had great plans for the future, and for me, life couldn't be better.

One night, I was in my bedroom, reflecting on my life. Everything was going so well, and I really felt happy. I remember looking out the window and thinking about the things I had: a wonderful fiance, good grades in school, a comfortable family business to take over, freedom from drugs and alcohol. But, suddenly a horrible feeling crept over my soul. I began to realize that all these things that were bringing me happiness could be taken from me in an instant. My satisfaction was based on earthly things and people, and suddenly, it all seemed so fragile. With all of the blessings I had, I still had that emptiness in my soul.

Looking back, I am glad that, in spite of my good circumstances, I still felt the void in my heart. It caused me to keep seeking for answers. I had dabbled in many things including Eastern philosophies, "positive thinking," and even Jehovah's Witness theology. In 1984, at age 25, I began attending Bible studies at school. For the first time, I began to see some answers to my questions. After some time, I realized that the emptiness in my soul could only be filled by God through Jesus Christ. On April 6, 1984 at about 1 pm in the parking lot at school, I bowed my head and received Jesus Christ as my Savior. At that moment, I was born again (spiritually), and for the first time in my life, I had peace in my soul!

Here is what it all means in a nutshell. We are separated from God because of sin. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually, and spiritual death is separation from God. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). Every human being is affected by sin. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

God gave the law (the 10 commandments) through Moses to give man a standard to measure himself by. But the purpose of the law is to show us that we fall short of God's standard. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:19, 20). Even if we keep the whole law and just disobey one commandment, we are guilty. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).

Spiritual death (separation from God), which is caused by sin, is what makes us empty inside. That is why, no matter what possessions we have, how wonderful our family and friends are, how religious we are, we still have a void in our hearts. Religion doesn't satisfy, because it is an attempt to make us acceptable to God through rituals and good works. The Bible is very clear that good works cannot save a person. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9). "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5, 6). The apostle Paul was very religious, but he said, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:9).

When you reflect on your lost condition before God (as I did), the reason for the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ becomes much clearer. Jesus Himself said, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). You must admit you are lost before you can be saved. That was the problem with the religious people in His day; they did not think they were lost. Their pride prevented them from acknowledging that they were spiritually dead, in need of a Savior. Instead, they were trying to become righteous through their religion. Of course, it is no different with most people in our day.

The purpose of the cross was to be an "atonement," or payment, for our sins; you can see this in the following verses: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:6-11). Notice that, while sin separated us from God, the death of Christ "reconciled" us to God. That is why Jesus Christ is called a "mediator." "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (I Timothy 2:5, 6).

So, what happened to me on April 6, 1984? As I understood my sinful state, and the great price that Jesus paid, I admitted that to God in prayer and received Jesus Christ as my Savior. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins, but it is up to each one of us to receive the gift of salvation by faith. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). When we receive Him, He washes away our sins and gives us everlasting life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

If you remember that spiritual death is separation from God, then it makes sense that receiving Jesus Christ gives us spiritual life. That is what Jesus meant when he said to be "born again." "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). Notice the phrase "passed from death unto life"! Paul said to the believers in Ephesus, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). To quicken means to be made alive.

My prayer and desire is that you will think about these things and how they apply to your own life. Jesus died for you and waits for you to receive Him by faith. Please email me any questions or comments you may have.