“Come to Jesus” moments have been highlighted and emphasized across the Internet, books, and podcasts. Many people have had “Come to Jesus” moments; however, many people have no idea what a “Come to Jesus” moment even means. Does it mean the moment when a person places faith in Christ or does it mean something else?
Coming to Jesus
The first time the phrase “come to Jesus moment” was utilized was in 1999. It was utilized in reference to “a moment of sudden realization, comprehension, or recognition that often precipitates a major change” (Ibid.).
In the original usage of this phrase, it was secular; however, many people also use this phrase in reference to the moment when they accepted Christ as their Savior and became a Christian. Therefore, “come to Jesus” can have two different meanings; one is secular, and one is faith-based.
In the secular sense, a “come to Jesus moment” can refer to the definition above or it can “refer to that point in time when someone has a realization, becomes enlightened, understands the core values that must be preserved in a situation” (Ibid.).
“Come to Jesus” in the secular sense could be used for any major change, such as realizing one needs to change their job or one who is struggling with alcohol dependency chooses to stop drinking. Simply because “Jesus” is part of the phrase does not mean it has any faith-based belief ties nor does it mean it is orthodox.
In the latter sense, a “come to Jesus moment” can refer to the time when a person places faith in Jesus by believing that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This makes more sense than the secular usage of the phrase since coming to know Jesus is truly done when one places faith in Him.
Each person will have a different conversion story than someone else because each person's redemption story is different. Testimonies can be similar, yet no two are exactly alike. Some people come to Jesus while they are young; whereas, others come to know Him later in life.
In any case, coming to know Jesus is a true moment that can never be forgotten. Many coming to know Jesus moments can be done out of a genuine calling out to the Lord for redemption. Tears, pain, and anguish of heart can all cause us to turn to place faith in the Lord.
It is common for us not to call out to God until we have hit rock bottom. At least for myself, this was true. Maybe you came to know Jesus through a difficult circumstance or event, such as the death of a loved one, through a failed relationship, or through another painful experience.
Even if you did not come to know Jesus through a difficult circumstance, your testimony is still 100% valid. It does not matter how we came to know Christ — all that matters is that you placed faith in His amazing grace. It is just by my own personal example that I came to know Jesus through the death of my mom.
It is possible you can relate to me or maybe you can’t. All that matters is that you have your own unique testimony of how you came to know Jesus. Your “come to know Jesus moment” is a great way to share the gospel with those who do not yet know Him.
Nobody can argue with your testimony or your own personal experiences of knowing the Lord. Sharing your testimony could help a lost person in your life have their own “come to Jesus moment.”
Sharing Your ‘Come to Jesus Moment’
Speaking from a Christian perspective, you can share your “come to Jesus moment” with others because it is ultimately your testimony. Sharing your testimony is one of the most effective ways to share the gospel.
People tend to argue with the historicity of the Bible or argue that it is not the inspired Word of God; however, nobody can argue with your testimony. Since it is your own personal “come to Jesus moment,” nobody can tell you that you are wrong.
A person cannot argue with your own unique circumstance of coming to know the Lord and how knowing Him has changed your life. No matter what your “come to Jesus moment” is, it is your own and unique testimony. It doesn’t have to be something dramatic to be genuine.
Whether if you accepted Christ through a vacation Bible school or through a near-death experience, both are amazing. What matters is that you accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord. Accepting Christ is the most important decision you will make during your life.
Unlike deciding on a college, a job, or buying a home, choosing to accept Jesus affects life after death. While these decisions such as buying a home or deciding where to go to college are important, they will not matter if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior before you pass away.
Sharing your “come to know Jesus moment” can truly help a loved one in your life hear about your own personal experience of accepting Christ and hear the gospel in an understandable way. When you share your testimony, be sure to share the gospel of how Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again.
After you share the gospel and your testimony, ask them what their thoughts are. If they are interested in what you have to say, they might even ask if Jesus could save them too. Of course, the answer would be yes because Jesus died to save all mankind from our sins in order for us to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Salvation is open to all (Romans 1:16). You can share with your loved ones how they can be saved and have eternal life with Christ by accepting His free gift of salvation. It could be by you sharing your “come to Jesus moment” will actually help your loved one have their own “come to Jesus moment.”
It should be noted that just because you share your testimony does not mean they will automatically accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Most times, it is a process to a point for a person to accept Christ.
Give your loved ones time to think and ponder on the gospel and what you told them about your own testimony. Simply because they did not accept the gospel right then and there does not mean they will never accept the gospel at some point in their life.
As believers, all we can do is share the gospel, share our testimony, and pray for the lost loved ones in our own lives. Therefore, a “come to Jesus moment” can mean one of two things: a secular meaning or a faith-based meaning.
For the former, it can refer to a sudden epiphany or moment of realization that causes a major change in a person’s life. The latter meaning of the phrase “come to Jesus moment” refers to when a person accepts Jesus as their own personal Savior and Lord.
Why Is This Important?
It is important to know which meaning a person means when they are telling you about their “come to Jesus moment.” The faith-based meaning of the phrase, “come to Jesus moment,” can be used synonymously with your testimony.
Your testimony is the moment you came to know Jesus and accepted Him as your Lord. Sharing your “come to Jesus moment” can help a lot of people come to experience the love of Jesus and the work of God in the daily lives of mankind.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean to ‘Live Is Christ and to Die Is Gain’?
Are Steps to Salvation Biblical?
What Does it Mean to Have Faith in Jesus?
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