Why Did God Create Man?

As a young child I attended Vacation Bible School at least 2 different summers that I can remember. I enjoyed the Bible stories with the felt boards and pictures, the songs, and the crafts we made from wood too. This gave me a foundation of faith in God that he was the creator, and that Jesus was his son born in a manger. That was about all I understood at that time. But we moved away and I did not go anymore.

In elementary school a girl invited me to go to church with her, but at that time I wasn't interested.

As a teenager, my sister's husband's niece invited me to go to Sunday School with her. I enjoyed this very much. Then my interests changed, and I stopped going with her.

After I was married, moved away from Madera to San Jose, and had a family of my own, my father died suddenly from an accident with his horse. This caused me to begin to question why God created people. I believed he had created Adam in the beginning, but I now couldn't see any point in people being born, living, and then dying. I knew there must be a reason. I felt the only place I could get an answer from God, would be to go to church.

I was invited to attend a Lutheran church one Sunday. But I didn't find an answer to my question there because they were discussing a trip.

Later I got an invitation from a woman to attend a Pentecostal church. I said I would go, but something came up, and I didn't make it to the service. She called and asked me again two other times. I wanted to go, but it seemed like something always changed my mind. Finally the third time, I determined in my heart that no matter what happened I was going to go to church, because I didn't want to make a liar out of myself again.

It was in November of 1974. It was pouring down rain that Sunday night, but I went to church anyway. I had never met the lady that invited me because her husband's health was not good, and she could not get out of the house to invite people, so she called them on the telephone. I had only talked to her on the telephone, and I wanted to let her know that I had finally made it to church. I asked the usher if he could direct me to where she was sitting. He did, and I introduced myself to her. I did not have any intentions on becoming a Christian. I only wanted an answer to my question.

While the pastor was preaching that night, he was telling how the Bible says we deserved to die for our sins, but Jesus who had not sinned, and gone to the cross to pay the price for my sins. He told how he was a king. This was something new to me. As a child I had seen pictures of Jesus on a cross, but I never really knew why he was on the cross. That night as he preached I saw a vision right there on the platform of Jesus hanging on the cross, and realized it was for my sins he died, which were many. My heart was struck by this great love, and I began to cry. The altar call was given, and I practically ran to the altar. As I stood there crying with the multitude of people gathered around, I made a vow to the Lord. I didn't know what to say after I repented, but I was so grateful that I told the Lord that no matter what came my way, I would always serve him.

Then I began to attend Bible studies. I just couldn't seem to get enough of his Word. I didn't want to go home because it felt so good. In one Bible study, the man who was leading it began to tell of his desire to receive the Holy Ghost just like they did in the Bible. He said he shut himself in his bedroom, and prayed until he began to speak in other tongues. Then he asked if anyone there would like to receive it. I came forward because I wanted all that God had for me. They all laid hands on me as we prayed, and soon I had received the same experience. When I went back to church for the next service, the pastor asked me how I felt. I said it felt like a well of joy springing up in my soul. My understanding of the Bible increased even more. It was like a whole new book. I loved reading it so much I could hardly put it down. I read it every chance I could.

We moved to Pittsburg from San Jose in January of 1976. After we began to attend the church here in Bay Point, I realized there was still something lacking in my conversion. I had been baptized in the church in San Jose, but not according to the Bible. After a short time I realized that this was true, and went forward to ask to be baptized. I thought that since I had already been baptized in the other church that I wouldn't feel any different, but I was very wrong. After I was baptized in Jesus' name I felt a cleansing in my soul that I never felt when I was baptized before.

I felt so good. I have continued to serve the Lord in Spirit and in truth here ever since then.

Through the years I have learned the answer to my question that brought me to God in the first place. I found that God had created Adam in the beginning for fellowship, and that he wanted to have a people called by his name to be his bride.

I only regretted that I had not become a Christian sooner, because I could have been happier sooner. God is so good. I don't know why people fear giving their hearts and lives to him. He is so loving and precious to me. I have enjoyed doing all I can do to help further the Gospel. To let people know that God is good, and he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.