Ushered in: Coming of age as a Christian

I wonder if I can make it through this post? We shall see presently, I suppose.

Twenty-one years ago tonight, Jesus' overpowering grace lifted me out the mire of sin and despair that overshadowed my existence. I know you're thinking, Wow, do you really remember that? You were only four years old. I mean, how much can a four year old really understand about religion and God and Jesus' death and resurrection? You are probably just remembering what people have told you about it.

My friend, this is what I remember with blinding clarity, and this is what I know more certainly than the chair I am sitting on: that I was lost, with no hope in the world and no confidence in my own ability to do anything about it. But now, I am found by the Great Lover and Pursuer of souls. Now, I am His and He is mine and His grace ensures that my identity will never change.

What does it mean to come of age as a Christian? I'm not sure I have the answer for that, even though I have been in this Family of faith for twenty-one years. But with each passing day, week, month and year, my heart's desire is that I am more like Him tomorrow than yesterday. And ultimately, every person, every circumstance, every dream and every prayer should be seen through the lens of Jesus' cross, because it was there that the weight of sin, the horror of the Curse and the perversity of human brokenness were picked up, carried and put to death in the offering of our Savior: Himself.

O Sinner, don't you know?
Your doubts, failure, shame and fear
Jesus took them from you
Carried them
Killed them
Triumphed over them

O Sinner, don't you know?
You are His, far and near
Jesus invites you
To come and drink
Drink deeply
And rest forever with Him

O Sinner, don't you know?
You are a saint forever!
His right-ness made
Your wrongness disappear
You are clean, you are whole
The forever-loved soul