Billy Graham: Personal changes run deep once you give yourself to Jesus | The Kansas City Star

Q. I know we’re supposed to be different once we commit our lives to Jesus, but what does this mean exactly? I’ve never been a bad person, so what would change if I became a Christian? I think I’d probably be about the same. — M.W.

A: If you gave your life to Jesus Christ you might not change as much as some would — at least on the surface. God is in the business of changing lives — and the more we need to change, the more we’ll actually be changed, by the power of God.

But you’ll notice I said you might not change much “on the surface” — and I used that phrase deliberately, because in reality your life would change dramatically. First of all, your destiny would change. Yes, you may be a good person compared with some, but are you good enough to get into heaven on your own? The answer is no, because God’s standard is nothing less than perfection, and none of us is perfect.

But when we come to Christ, God freely and fully forgives us all our sins, and now heaven’s door is open to us. This is possible only because on the cross all our sins were transferred to Christ, and he became the final sacrifice for our sins. Because of him, the Bible says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).

But you’ll change in other ways also, because Christ will give you a new love for others, and a new desire to help them and share Christ with them. He’ll also deepen the good things in your life, and prune away the bad things (and we all have them). Don’t delay, but by faith turn to Jesus and open your heart to his transforming power.