@Grailhunter
I grew up with knowledge of Jesus. I heard some of the Bible stories growing up; I saw some Bible based movies. I even visited some churches in my youth. But I remember not wanting to be a regular church goer because I knew by instinct that I would have to let go of somethings I liked doing back then. It wasn’t that I did not believe the Bible stories, but I just didn’t want to be a church person. I never read scripture growing up. I suppose I heard some scripture in the churches and movies. I believed, but I didn’t want to commit to the church routine.
Then years later when my world crumbled around me I bought a Bible and started to read it. By the time I got to my second reading I was on the road to conversion. And I am thankful for his word because the churches and many of its members are corrupt. I soon realized this the more I read and learned the scriptures and remembered the churches I visited the past.
Anyway, sorry for rambling.
Sounds just like i once was . I guarantee i can tell you what it was you did not want to let go of .
Cause it was the same for me . AND EVEN JESUS says why folks wont come to Him .
I knew what i was hearing in a sense was true , but i just did not want to give up what i loved , my life in this world , MY SIN .
AND that alone is why even JESUS says folks wont COME TO HIM . THEY LOVE DARKNESS , SIN rather than truth .
THEY dont want to come lest their sins be reproved . I was not ready to give up my sinful lifestyle .
OH but praise GOD for grace . Years upon years later , HE would give me a whole new heart and new desires .
The reason we did not come to Christ , was we loved our sin , we wanted to live THIS LIFE for US .
Facts are facts and the truth is the truth . AND THOUGH i am ashamed of those wicked things NOW ,
I remind us of truth . PRAISE GOD for HIS MERCY is all i can say . And now i do warn
others within even the churches , FOR many are as i once was , in love with THIS LIFE , this WORLD , ITS AFFECTIONS .
And i warn them YOU better heed the SPIRIT and COTINUE IN CHRIST TO THE END . FOR WE are made partakers of CHRIST
IF WE HOLD our confidence in HIM , FIRM TO THE END . THAT WE MUST BE HEARERS AND DOERS
and not to deceive ourselves as I ONCE DID DECIEVE MY SELF . THE warnings must not be omitted , THEY INSTEAD MUST BE INCREASED .
FOR IF we have the SPIRIT , WE WOULD SOUND LIKE and AGREE WITH CHRIST and the apostels . AND THEY ALL WARNED
that we must continue to the END , that we must be hearers and DOERS of the word .