Ricardo's Testimony || permanent joy

I have always been extremely blessed with loving and supportive family and friends, who I love to think that if I asked them to run a marathon in high heels with me strapped to their back, they would do it in a heartbeat! I have had the chance to travel the world at a young age and represent my country in swimming and they have always been there for me. I guess I could say that I have had such a supportive up-bringing from the people who loved me that I struggled to see how life could be any better than what it was if I believed and trusted in Jesus as my Saviour. 

For me I really struggled to see what was so remarkable about Jesus Christ.

I always felt if I just believed in God and said the occasional prayer, surely that would be enough to find hope in life. Even when I was constantly challenged by my sister Alyssa and my brother-in-law Mitch to see the truth, I continued to live life for me, striving to attain what I could from this world, and living with a selfish outlook. I found at times though when I'd come home after a party, sometimes I felt like I was heading in the wrong direction, cause all the joy from the night just seemed to fade so quickly. It was just temporary. And I found myself asking questions to why I felt this way.

Over a few months I had these questions burning inside of me. The most difficult one for me was, "what life is like after we die?" At this stage Becky and I had just started to become good friends, and as we started to build a firm friendship I told Becky I was struggling with certain questions and she prompted me to read the book '23 minutes in Hell'. Being friends I thought, "Okay why not," thinking at least I'll impress her by showing her I can read! Little did I know after reading it I would feel extremely challenged from my past life, and how I'd rejected Jesus' offer of salvation. I didn't think by reading one book I'd want to know and honour God's word. Now I knew I needed something eternal that didn't fade, and the book really stirred my heart and captured the true reality to what lies ahead.

We will all stand before Jesus when he returns.

About halfway through the year I attended the course Exploring Christianity here at ashgrove - and it again helped me to really dig deeper into understanding the story of Jesus and his gospel. After that I was blessed to meet Dan and join the life group he coordinates. Ever since my first meeting, reading scripture, and praying with the amazing people at life group, I have felt this overwhelming joy - a joy that is not just temporary in any way! For me this Jesus who had always seemed so unremarkable all of a sudden stood out to me, and as I began to read the Bible I found it not only answered the major question burning inside my heart, but also made sense of all the questions I've struggled with about my life journey. I now see that through him anything is possible.

My faith is in Christ alone, whose sacrifice on the cross covered my sins and whose love always keeps me.

Since becoming a Christian my walk with Jesus has not been perfectly straight. I have and will regrettably continue to fall way short of his glory and I continue to wrestle with that fact. His grace still has so much to do in me to help me overcome sin and live for him.

But his promises leave no doubt that I'm moving forward, and my life now is a testimony to the fact that Jesus changes lives.

Before you all tonight I want to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ and in obedience to him, publically declaring my commitment to and my total dependence on Him as my Saviour and Lord.