As I grew older, my selfishness and immoral behavior grew stronger, and I was finding my identity in what the world expected of me. I was comparing myself to other people, my friends, wanting to be socially accepted by conforming to their behavior. I would also be an instigator of sinful practices; there is quite an extensive list. But through all the evil in my life, which I obviously thought was not so evil, I still believed I was a pretty good person. I would pray to God especially in difficult times, and even so, He would have answered my prayers. But instead of realizing how holy and amazing our God is, I would rather develop a pattern where I did what ever my heart desired. But when times are tuff, I would revert back to God, and with an expectation that I somehow still deserved Him to hear my calling.

Excessive drinking, lust within my heart, greed, no love for my fellow man, the list goes on and on, all underlining characteristics of my life without Christ.

After school I went to the UK for 8 months, still living according to my sinful desires. It was not my easiest year, and I would sometimes draw closer to God through my experiences there, only to disappoint Him at the very next opportunity.

After the UK, I went to study at the University of Pretoria, and in my 1^st year, I stayed in a residence. This year was a year totally ignoring God. There would always be someone else to support your decisions and 99% of the time it was not a good decision.

About 2 years ago, I lived with a dear friend of mine, Rikus. After the UK, he came to know God and was saved. With my Dutch Reformed background, I wasn't to sure what this meant to be saved. I would see his life change dramatically and not really be concerned why. As at that time, I was enjoying my life, believing I was a good person.

He would have tried to share the gospel with me on a few occasions, but I wasn't really interested. One day he asked if he could speak to me again. He shared the gospel with me and on that day I could not deny the living word of our God. The scriptures became clear, I REALISED THAT I DESERVED HELL!!! The passages that he shared would convict me of my sins. I was desperately in need of a savior...

He also shared the good news that Christ came to die for me, for my sins, taking away the blame, putting the punishment on Him. This would not be the first time that I heard about this, but it was the first time I truly realized what Jesus did on the cross. Overwhelmed by what was happening, I asked what I should do. Later I went down on my knees, in humility, in front of a gracious, loving all powerful God, and I would pray to Him that he would give me a new heart, that he would save me from myself, my sins.

I remember reading Psalm 51, crying out to God to cleanse me of my sins. My life would be changed! This did not mean that I would stop sinning. Where I was seeking my identity in the world, I now wanted to find my identity in Christ. So many times after that day, I have asked God to save me again and again. My sins became evidently clear and I could repent from them.

I have a hunger for God's righteousness, his love and for the past two years I have grown spiritually and learnt so much about Gods' character and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through His grace and mercy, he has saved me from an eternity in hell, and I look forward to go boldly in to his presence, spending an eternity in heaven. I also realized by being a good person, doing good deeds, did not justify my actions and gave me a right standing with God. Only through Jesus Christ will I be able to one day be in heaven.

Growing up in the Dutch reformed church, we practiced infant baptism. After a long study into God's word, I realized his command to us. Thus out of obedience to Him, ‘repent and let yourself be baptised', I share my testimony and want to be baptised. Hoping that others might also come to know their sins, and repent from them, and find their identity in Christ, our wonder Lord and savior.

I pray that we might die to ourselves, so that we can focus on what our savior did on the cross, living lives that makes God look great. Be it at work, with friend and family or other people so that they might see that we have a treasure that is not in this world!