Jesus Christ is not just the reason that my family is in Texas. He is the reason that I live. Life was not always so certain. I still bear the scars of the wild and sinful life before Christ. I was 25 years old when I found myself reading the bible for the first time. It was 1972. My life was a mess: a wife, a kid, a job and finally out of the marines. Why was I so miserable? Nothing that I tried gave me a moment of peace and meaning. I remember it like yesterday – the moment I realized that what I had been told all my life was true! He did die on the cross for me! I didn’t have a hard time believing that because I knew I was sick. I later came to realize that was what the Bible calls sin. No need to convince me. I know that there are some who think they are good people but that is only in their eyes. The bible tells us that we are all sinners and that no one will be justified or declared good in His eyes. Still there are people who think they can merit God’s favor by doing good works. They think they can keep the Ten Commandments and go to heaven. But the bible tells us that by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight. So when I finally realized that I better read the bible and see for myself, I came to a startling realization! I remember the very night that I believed that Jesus died on the cross for me. Oh, I knew He died on the cross. I just never believed that He did it for my sins. That perspective is called trust. I have put my trust in Jesus of Nazareth for eternal life. So when I decide to forgo the goods of the world or this life or the flesh, how do I know it’s the right thing and not just missing out? How do I know that someone who trusts in their own god or their good works don’t all end up at the same place? - Simple but profound answer – the resurrection! No one has ever come back from death. The Romans certainly killed him. Let’s not practice stupid. The Jews – Peter, James, John and the rest were not looking for a suffering dying messiah. They were looking for a King. They were too full of their own egotistical sin (like us) to make that up. Who would ever substitute personal, submissive, sacrifice for eternal glory in place of immediate gratification? Only Jesus of Nazareth. There is only one answer for the historical account: Jesus rose from the dead. That is what gave the first century Christians the direction they needed. One will die for a worthy cause but one will not die for a lie. They knew He lives and they chose to live for Him. Jesus Christ changed their lives and He changed mine. My life is blessed: I have a great wife and family, I have a great job and I’m back in the service to Him. Jesus in the Life. He is absolute Truth. He is the only way to the Father that we know as our God and Creator.