Born From Above

Have you ever wondered about your salvation experience(s)? I mean, trying to make sense of how one can believe as a child but feel as though you weren't 'saved' or 'born again' until that second time when you were older. Well, I've thought a lot about it. I've heard a lot about it. But, a year or so ago, it was settled in my mind. I felt as though the Lord Himself had taught my heart. You know those times when you have that light bulb experience and you try to share it with others but it doesn't affect them the same way? Years ago, I began taking my own informal survey of the age when one is saved. Time after time I would hear someone say something like "Well I was saved when I was a child, but I dedicated my life to Christ when I was in college." I noticed that the first experience usually happened somewhere between the ages of 9-12 and the second between 17-25. For my own life, I don't actually remember a time when I didn't believe in Jesus, but at 9 years of age at the Joliet General Baptist under Reverend Maricle (yes, that was his name and to a child miracle and maricle sound the same-we were in church, he was the preacher, it made sense to my childbrain) I had my first experience. I went down front and was 'saved'. I was baptised and continued to act, basically, the same, I think, but I always knew I was His and when I wasn't doing right, I felt guilty. So, while I wasn't necessarily obedient, I did feel a responsibility to God. Funny enough, around 14 or 15 yrs I became aware of the hypocrisy in my life and my thoughts were something like "I am a Christian but if I died right now, I wouldn't go to heaven." That's because I didn't understand God's Grace and the impossibility of being a Christian and not going to heaven. So, anyway, at 17, at a Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL I had my second experience, where I 'rededicated' my life to Christ. From this point on, my life did change. My desires did change. My actions even changed. Whatever it was, it was real and lasting-in fact everlasting. Fast-forward to my thoughts today. What actually happened to me on those two occasions. Here's what I believe. Warning: Some of you theologians out there may be tempted to teach me about context and the order of salvation and etc. etc.
My first experience was when I came to Jesus and He said "let the little child come to me and do not hinder her."
My second experience was not when 'I made Jesus my Lord', it was when Jesus said "Follow Me." And what else could I do? I am one of His sheep, I heard His voice and I followed.