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Yesterday, we had an awesome concert on LaPlata Beach. It was the first huge event I have every helped organize. From calling the CRC to Department of Public Safety, I literally had my hands full of logistics, reservations, and all of that craziness that makes most people crazy.

Yesterday, I shared my faith publicly for the first time. In my classes, I do not mention that I am a Christian for many reasons. After inviting many of them to attend, I wasn’t sure how this was going to change me as a student. But, this being my last semester, I had nothing to lose.

I was nervous to give my story. I’ll provide you with the text version below:

I think sex is awesome. Of course, sex is only meaningful in a loving relationship, right? I felt like my arm wouldn’t be complete without a woman there. I’m willing to bet you know someone like that. And like that someone, I was a constant womanizer, nudging my best friend about how hot this girl was. There was a particular girl who I thought had it all. She was drop-dead gorgeous. She was 4 years older than me. And to top it all of, she was British.

This was my dream woman. And we started dating right after I had just broken up from a 2-year on-again-off-again girlfriend. We went on some great dates! After each one, I would be to get laid by her. After our third date, we went back to my place and we did it. But I wasn’t in love with her. All I knew was that this was something I wanted. And it was great! Afterwards, she went home. I began to realize that I wanted more of her. I wanted to be with her all the time. So we did. But no matter how many times I saw her, no matter how many times I had sex with her, I still felt something inside me saying, “I want more.”

She broke up with me after a month. I eventually found out later that she had moved in with an old friend as was sleeping with him. In all honesty, I wasn’t jealous. I was upset at myself. Why had I fallen for her?

I began telling this heart-wrenching story to a good friend of mine. She told me that “God has a plan for certain things in our life.” I remember walking home that night and thinking, “What if dating woman after woman isn’t what life was all about? What if there was something more?”

I began going to church and trying to understand what God had to say about this. I was expecting a message about how you aren’t suppose to date and that sex is bad and evil. To my surprise, I discovered that God had a plan for everyone, and that his plan would lead not to happiness, but to contentment. That contentment could only be found in knowing Jesus.

I’ve heard that before. And so have many of you. But what if it were true? I began to talk to God, something I hadn’t done in a long time. “God, I don’t know what your plan is for my life, but I know it’s got to be better than this. I want to know what I’m missing in my relationships. I want to know why I’m never satisfied.”

After I prayed that, I began to realize something very important. I wasn’t looking for a woman. I was looking for love. I wanted someone to love me. I wanted to feel important to somebody. I had to realize that God was the only one who would do that. And he could only get to me if and only if I could accept that Christ forgave me. You see, it was only after I could be forgiven for all the crap that I did, so that I could encounter life the way he intended it.

Now, three years later, I don’t feel like I need a woman on my arm to define who I am.

The most amazing part?

I could live like this forever.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

I am NOT ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of GOD for the salvation of EVERYONE who believes…

“See my glory.”