I was 17 when I first examined the gospel. Not that I felt I needed to, mind you. I was a churchgoer, a do-gooder, and above all I was sincere. But I had met some Christian teenagers who had something I didn't have, and I was curious.

Two things troubled me. First was their stress on sin and repentance. I had always compared myself favorably with those I considered to be mega-sinners--murderers, gangsters, and the like--making me feel more grateful than sinful.

A second thing that bothered me about these Christians was their insistence that Jesus had to die and rise again. Well, He didn't need to go to such extremes for me, I thought.

Then one evening God prompted me to compare myself with Him. I realized my sinfulness, and I eagerly repented! At last I appreciated the necessity of Christ's death and resurrection. If sin's penalty didn't fall on us, where else could it fall? Calvary was the only place. In His immeasurable love, Jesus did what was necessary (Lk. 24:46). Dying, He allowed sin's penalty to fall on Him. Rising, He became our living Savior to overcome sin's power in us.

You don't have to take my word for it, of course. But have you taken His?  — Joanie Yoder