Living Waters Fellowship

Josh and Marie Daggett

Is it possible to go to church a lot and NOT be o.k. with God?

I used to not think so.

I grew up in a conservative religious home, I had great parents, a great home life, and I went to church every time the doors were open. By all outward appearances I was a good, moral person that was better than most.

As I hit my teenage years, three things began to dominate me; these things are what the Bible calls IDOLS. Idolatry is a breaking of the 2nd commandment in the Bible (Exodus 20).  Idols are created things that take the place of God in our lives.  Everyone has different Idols, but mine were: Sports, Popularity and Girls, probably in that order. I began to sell my soul to these three things; I was consumed with being the best athlete, one of the popular kids and a guy that was attractive and cool. You see, I had grown up very religious, I knew about Jesus and the Bible yet these things did not seem to be serving my idols very well…in fact, God, to me, was a kill-joy and everyone I knew who was a Christian seemed to insist on wearing uncomfortable suits and dresses and being angry all the time.

When I reached high school, things appeared to be going great; My addiction to my idols were in full effect and everything APPEARED to be going well, but inwardly, I began to feel depressed and disillusioned as sin ruled more and more of my heart. Sin is always fun for a season (Hebrews 11:25), but it ultimately leaves you worse off then you were before. Despite my misery, I refused to let God get in the way of my sinful pleasures, so I attempted all the more to avoid anything associated with Jesus and the Bible.

The summer before my senior year of high school, after just returning from a basketball camp, I was forced to go on a missions’ trip to New York City by my Dad. I protested the trip strongly but was on the plane anyways. From the beginning of the trip, I didn’t participate. I didn’t sing, I didn’t smile, and I didn’t talk to anyone about Jesus as I didn’t believe He was real. On the 3rd night, they announced that they were going to be hosting a time of prayer and testimonies.  Of course I thought this was stupid and did not attend.

About halfway through the evening, I decided to venture down to the prayer/testimony event.  As I walked into the room, there was a young man from Texas up on stage talking. He spoke about how Jesus had freed him from his Sin and Idolatry and forgiven him from God’s just punishment for his pride & rebellion. He shared some verses that I had heard before…“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23)…The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)…But God commended His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)…If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9,10).”

As I listened the the kid on stage talk, I began to feel heavy conviction over my sin. I had always sinned, but never felt guilty or remorseful for what I had done…this was different…for the 1st time in my life, I knew I needed to change.  I knew I needed forgiveness.  So, dropped to my knees right there and said something very simple to God, I said, “Jesus, I’ve wasted 17 years of my life sinning against you. You know I’m a sinner, you know everything about me, please forgive me for all the sin that is in my life. I accept you Jesus, as my Savior.” It was at that point that God saved me on July 6th, 1999 in New York City.

The scriptures say, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17)” When I got back home, I had true Joy for the 1st time in my life.  Everything changed for me…I began to study the Bible vigorously and God provided some great teachers and accountability partners that helped me grow.  10 years later I can still say honestly that Jesus is the real deal…He saved me and continues to change my life.  There is great joy in being a believer and I have realized that the greatest way I can live my life is to lay it down for my Savior who died and rose again for me and for those who don’t yet know Jesus personally. (Acts 20:24)

That’s my story.