Way of Purity Testimony: Chad

After struggling with pornography and self-gratification for almost 18 years, it is finally over. I was tired of pretending to be someone I was not. In the past, I have been what you might call a "fake" Christian. For several years, I led a double life; something I hated. Finally, I had had enough of the secret life I led, and knew I had to come clean if I were to truly be free. Only a few close friends ever knew what I struggled with in my past, but no one ever knew that I was still fighting for my life.

Even though I wanted it to end, I couldn't, or maybe it's that I wouldn't, stop. I kept coming back to it no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from it. Many attempts failed, because I didn't take my thoughts captive, but allowed them to run through my mind until they became action. Another reason I failed to get it under control, was that I was trying to do everything in my own strength. I was calling upon God to help me, and He would. But then shortly after, it was as if I said, "OK, God, thanks. I'll take it from here." What I didn't know and wasn't learning from my past stumbling and falling, was that I was making provision for my sin each and every time.

Months at a time I would be clean and living the "Christian" life, praying, preaching, teaching, being an example, being a light, but all at once I would give myself over to the urges that I had, which seemed to be stronger than my faith in Jesus. All during that time I never realized that I was no longer serving the Master who had bought me with a price and redeemed my life from death. I was sinking deep in my sin. Pornography and self-gratification had gradually slipped chains around my body and tightened with every attempt I made to leave. They were slowing squeezing the life out of me. I was a drowning man close to death and my cries were seemingly going unheard - until the day I was lead to "SettingCaptivesFree.com" and enrolled in the "The Way of Purity" course!

God has used this course in a mighty way to turn my life around. He has helped me see the truth in His word, but it hasn't stopped there. I have also learned how to actually apply His truths to my life. Jesus Christ has given me a new freedom, one that I have never truly lived in before. I stand in awe of the transformation He has done in my life during this course. It is really not possible to put into words what life-giving changes He has made in me. For the first time in my life, I understand what it is to know the true joy of God's salvation. By His grace my eyes, my heart, and my spirit have been opened to a whole new world of life. I am no longer the person I used to be, but now I am a new creature in Christ. And, being new, I must continue learning to walk in this newfound life and grow in the Spirit.

It seems like just a few days ago I was beginning the course with little hope of eternal freedom. Today, by the grace of God, I can stand and proclaim that He has set me free. Even though the end of this course is near, the practical, biblical teaching and instruction I received will continue to grow and produce fruit in my life. I pray that as my life has been transformed God will use me to lead others to freedom in Christ Jesus.