What stands out to me from my own testimony are two things: first, the stubbornness of the human heart in remaining in sin and misery, and second, the remarkable grace of God which stretches even to giving faith to those who hate him.
The first point may surprise you, considering I was only nine when I became a Christian. But it is true. I grew up in a loving Christian home, and my parents taught me well the truths and the implications of the faith. I lived a happy life in terms of worldly comforts, but true contentment eluded me.
Being estranged from my Maker weighed down upon me, like a burden that can be forgotten for a time, but never for long. I would often be angry at my father and my brothers for no good reason, and after cooling down would see my sin. But I did not inwardly change.
Outwardly religious
God had given me a natural regret for wrong deeds, and true remorse would often follow sin. But this remorse was only ever because I had disappointed people, or myself, or caused others hurt, and it was never because I had broken God’s perfect law.
