Andy Shin
Looking back, I can only thank God for the family he has placed me in. I have been blessed to have grown up in a Christian home with God fearing parents who challenge and encourage me in every aspect of my life. Sadly, in my foolishness and youth I took this all for granted and even found it annoying at times. I was disciplined well at home, went to Sunday school at church, and even attended Christian private schools for most of my life. Through all of this, I was repeatedly taught to be kind to others, to share, to be honest, and so on. However, what I failed to realize was that I was only learning how to appear good in the eyes of others. Nobody ever told me why I was to love people but I was simply told that it was the right thing to do. In the eyes of my family and friends, I was a good kid. Of course, this all went to my head and I began to even fool myself into thinking that I was this good Christian kid. This and so many other sins that dominated my life as an unbeliever were all well concealed from peers and even from myself. I pretty much kept this up all the way to college when God began to reveal my sinfulness that was so deeply rooted in my heart.
My college years were fun and memorable. However, more importantly, they have been by far the most significant times of my young life. This is when and where God saved me. To be more specific, sophomore year was the time and Lighthouse Bible Church was the place. I was told about the righteousness that our holy and perfect God demands from us and that this was a righteousness that none of us could accomplish on our own. I was told that if I stumble at even one area of my life, I become guilty of breaking every commandment and that there is an eternal penalty for my sins. But by the grace of God, we are given the greatest gift for the greatest demand. God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who lived that perfect life on earth, died on a cross, and conquered death so that we might live. Christ has fulfilled both the requirements of righteousness and the penalty that I deserved for my sinfulness. He saved us undeserving sinners from his wrath that we deserve.
Only by the grace of God am I able to call myself a Christian today. Though I grew up in the Christian church, it was in college when I truly repented of my sins and submitted my life to Christ. By God's grace, I was brought to saving faith in the Gospel and a transformation of the heart that completely changed my world-view and my purpose in life. Christ must be the center of our lives and the one we seek to glorify. I learned that sins from both the past and future cannot add to or take away from the completed saving work of Jesus Christ. My salvation is based solely on my faith in the Gospel. However, this does not mean that I can go on sinning all the more, for Scriptures also clearly say we have been set free from the bondage of sin and are now slaves of righteousness. As genuine believers, God sanctifies us so that we may grow and bear good fruit. Another difference now is that my sin is a burden that afflicts me while sin was a pleasure that delighted me before. In the past, I delighted in the approval of man, but now understand that it is ridiculous to seek that acceptance of others without any concern for my heart before God. Before, I delighted in the pride of knowledge, but now understand that intellect on its own only leads to conceit. Instead, an increasing knowledge of God should translate into increased worship and satisfaction in Him. Although I still struggle with the presence of sin in this life, I know that I have been freed from the dominion of sin and know that Christ is the author and perfecter of my faith. My faith in the Word and its truth gives me this hope.
Not only did God present this complete Gospel message to me but transformed me and has sustained me thus far. He has provided me with a church family here in San Diego that holds me accountable and challenges me to run the race. This is where I was first truly challenged to defend my faith, break the sinful patterns of my life, pursue holiness, and share the good news. I have also grown to see the importance of discipleship. As a young believer, it's a blessing to have older men at the church who show signs of faithfulness in ministry, wisdom, and love for Christ. It's one thing to read and hear about godly men and it's another to see them live it out, personally challenge you, and lead by example. I thank God for providing me with such resources here at Lighthouse. The amazing thing is that I have nothing to say for all the things God has blessed me with but that it was only by His sovereign grace.
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