A Journey of Faith

by Matthew Gitau
(Download this article as a PDF).

When I was young I didn’t attend church because my mum and I were constantly moving. We didn’t have a place to stay and we had other financial problems. But we had a Gideon’s international Bible and another publication which had the book of Revelation written in it. I used to read those two books and I loved reading them, but I really didn’t understand well what I was reading.

One thing I enjoyed about growing up in Kenya is that most people fear God, from little children to senior citizens. They fear God and respect His Name even if they don’t really know Him. As a child people told me that God sees you if you do something bad. I didn’t want to get in trouble so that alone made me to behave because I didn’t want God to “see me.”

A New Way of Life

I decided to give my life to Jesus Christ when I was going through a very difficult point in my life. I didn’t have a job. I couldn’t help my mum who also wasn’t working because she was sick most of the time. I thought before I completely give up in life let me try God. Because Jesus saves from sin, He has power over everything, He will make my life better I thought.

About this time I was invited to join a class that met at a local church. It was here that I learned about repentance and the cross. Repentance to me means to turn from sin and return to God. The cross is a symbol of death and hope all at the same time. Jesus died and rose from the dead. Likewise, our old nature must die so that we can live as a brand-new creation in Christ. When I made a decision to make Jesus my King I didn’t make a decision to add God to my life. It was a decision to restructure my life around God. It was a fundamental change in my life. Jesus saves me by His grace. He died and rose again just to pay the price for my sins.

I was baptized and became a member of the church. I also got an opportunity to serve in the church each week. When I got to know Jesus as my Savior it affected my daily life. I found that I started hating some of the things I used to do. I became more conscious of my behaviour. Knowing God and His Holiness has profoundly deepened my love and thanks and appreciation of what Jesus did for us! It has also helped me to fear Him and pursue righteousness. I compare my life before and after I got saved, and I can truly say that after I received Christ as my Saviour I have seen favor after favor. To call God my Father gives me joy, and knowing I can relate with Him is so comforting.

Mwambie Mtu
(Tell Someone)

Have you made a decision for Jesus Christ either recently or in the past? Share your story with someone else this week.