I first believed on Christ for salvation when I was 13 years old. Previously, I had thought that religion was a good thing, but I thought that there really wasn’t a personal God that I had to deal with. One of my best friends was a Baptist. He started talking to me about the book of Revelation and the future. His mother gave me a tract that explained salvation. We had one bible in the house. I started reading it, especially the book of Revelation. I also read Mark.

I started feeling convicted that God is real. I read the tract and believed what the bible said about Jesus’ death and resurrection. One day I knelt by my bed and asked Jesus to save me.

It wasn’t until later that I understood the process God uses to draw people to Himself. There is the power of the Word of God and the power of the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ in bringing conviction of sin and producing faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Think back to the time you trusted Christ as your Savior. You might not at that time realized the process of God, but don’t you see how God was involved in initiating your faith to believe? Jesus is the author of faith; that means God initiates faith in us to believe. It is important for us to understand that, because of the rest of the verse. Jesus is the finisher of our faith. God is faithful. The same God who initiated faith so that we could believe will also give us the faith to finish the race of life. We need not give up, because Jesus didn’t give up, and He is at the right hand of the Father where He can also help us. He can increase our faith. Jesus is the Finisher of our faith!

Thankfully remembering how God worked in your life in the past may help increase your faith for today and the future. It might be good to write out your testimony of salvation and share it with someone else.

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Recovery Ministry