Who in their right mind could have ever seen me being a Christian two and a half years ago? I honestly believe the camel could have entered through the eye of a needle before this would ever happen. But along with that statement, Jesus said, “the things that are impossible with people are possible with God” (Luke 18:27 LBX). I was involved with the most corrupt crowds and lived by feeding off of other’s addictions. From drug indulging, to fulfilling youthful lusts, I engaged myself in whatever I could get my hands on. I paraded in evil.

There are not many people who are fortunate enough to find a way out of those lifestyles. Most do not ever look for it; others don’t ever see a problem. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8 LBX).

I made, at least, one good decision in those days and that was loving Leah Hyde. It was a choice that saved my life. She walked and talked in a way that I saw and heard but did not understand. We discussed Jesus and religion until 5 a.m. at times. She never gave up on me. One night she proposed a question that I will never forget. “Why don’t you talk to my grandpa?” I refused, so I talked to Bubba Garner instead.

Bubba shared the gospel with me and I obeyed. I never knew that such filth in someone’s life could be forgiven. “Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me” (Amazing Grace, v.1).

God’s grace reached me and my life has not been the same since. From the night I was baptized, I have entered into a journey that has brought purpose to my life.

The next baseball season after I was born again, I was trying to save the sinners like me. I struggled walking on a straight line, because I was young in the faith. I wanted to be like Christ, and the hope of reaching that level of maturity drove me daily. For Peter says, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2 LBX).

I was tempted from all angles, but in my mind I just had to keep walking. I had to establish a new group of friends and a new way of making decisions. I lost the close relationships with the drug abusers, the alcoholics, the fornicators, the slanderers and the perverts. I could not be around evil or I would fall into their deeds. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 15:33 LBX, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’”

As a year passed and another season came to be, I came to know a new group of friends. God blessed me. I had brethren among me to hold me accountable and to strengthen my weaknesses. “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17 LBX). For five months I could observe others and apply new qualities of Christianity.

Looking back on it, God was slowly, but surely, molding me into something I only dreamed of—being like Christ. The Lord planned for these people to be in my life—my teammates, Bubba, Leah, and you.

“The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures” (Amazing Grace, v.4). I knew that I could not give up on the faith even though it can be strenuous. The difficultly we face here on earth is what develops perseverance. We must do our best to rejoice “when the goin’ gets tough.” James 1:2-4 LBX says, “To consider it joy when we encounter various trials because the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

That’s how I got where I am. And I know that the Lord is not through working on me. But I do know that “‘twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home” (Amazing Grace, v.3). When you put your faith in God, He will see you through every trial and take you home to heaven. That’s where I want to be.