Good, but not Godly
By Re'Nita O'Bannon
To God be the glory for the things He has done!
I grew up in a loving home but my parents were not churchgoers. They both said they had to practically live in the church when they were children so they made a conscious decision NOT to go as adults, even though they were saved.
Despite their decision, along with my brother, I faithfully participated in weekday religious education back when you could study religion in public schools, attended a weekly neighborhood Bible study for children (what a wonderful woman Mrs. Hamilton was to open her home every Thursday evening to teach children about Jesus), and walked to a neighborhood church EVERY Sunday. I even earned perfect attendance pins for Sunday School. Not one Sunday did my parents ever make me go to church. I WANTED to be there. I was good, but not godly.
I was always grateful to God for giving me the desire to know Him and study His Word at an early age, but I was merely going through the motions as I had not given my life to Him. By all outward appearances I was good, but not godly.
In my early teen years, my family moved across town so I could no longer attend the neighborhood Bible study nor the church I had been attending. However, I found another church and walked several blocks every Sunday. But, as a teenager, with no adult supervision, I would sit in the balcony with other teens, leave during the middle of the sermon, walk to the corner candy store, return to the balcony and eat candy and talk through the rest of the service. This underscores the need for parents to TAKE their children to church and not just send them to church. Yes, still going through the motions. I was good, but not godly.
As a young adult, I continued going to church but was also doing what I wanted to do. Christ was not on the throne, as I had still not made a commitment to Him since I still had some living to do. I really wasn't living; I was sinning.
Then one day, over 30 years ago, the Lord spoke to me and told me to stop playing church. Doing things my own way was getting me nowhere fast and after trying all the rest, I decided to try the best. Accepting Christ as my personal Lord and Savior is a decision I have never regretted and I am so thankful God did not give up on me. I learned there is no good without God. Now, like a tree planted by the rivers of water, I shall not be moved. PRAISE GOD!
