I have a birthday and I have my best birthday. My birthday was the first day my mother gave birth to me into this world while my best birthday is the day God gave birth to me into the kingdom of God meaning that I am now Born Again.

Through my natural birthday I was born into the world and was called the son of my earthly father but through spiritual birthday I was born into the kingdom of God and called the son of my heavenly father, the Almighty God hence a son of God.

The day I was given birth into the kingdom of God, angels rejoiced and celebrated in heaven, there was a massive Jubilation in heaven. That particular day, God wrote my name in the book of Life and my name was deleted from the book of death and condemnation. That day, God forgave all my sins and Jesus washed and cleansed me from my sins with his own precious blood which he shed on the cross for the whole world.

After cleansing me, He gave me power to sin no more. I became a new creature. Old Life of sin passed away. I discovered that I cannot tell lies anymore, steal anymore, cheat anymore, curse or abuse anymore etc. People around me knew that something happened to me. I became careful with my relationship with the opposite sex.

I then remembered a man that I cheated long ago. This man treated me of broken bones. When I saw I was healed I didn't go back to give him his full payment. After I was born again I traveled to the village, traced that man and gave him his complete money. Nobody forced me to do that. I did that because, am now Born again with a new nature, that cannot cheat.

I still remember the year and the place and the venue where God gave birth to me and made me his Son. How can I forget such a great day?. That particular day was beautiful and wonderful. I call it the best day of my life.

It was in a Fellowship of Christian students (FCS) yearly program tagged Exodus'89. I was then a first year student in the university. I still remember the preacher. He preached Jesus! I knew I was a sinner even though I was very religious.

I was a youth leader in my denominational church before I got admission, I represented my church in programs and meetings and was quite vocal. I do Bible reading in my Church , I also did confirmation in my church then. I represented the church in quiz competitions. I often performed very well. In the church I will be commended but deep inside me, I knew I was a sinner going to hell.

In spite of me being religious, I tell lies , fight, abuse, steal and do other evil things. In fact, I was a wicked person. One time I was sick and some thing told me if you die now you are going to hell. I knew it and didn't want to go hell fire.

I made resolutions to stop my sinful lifestyle but to no avail. I was helpless to myself. I was truly looking for freedom from sin because I want to be a real child God and not just a religious church goer. I want to go to heaven and not hell fire.

So when I went to the program the preacher preached Jesus the only Savior from sin. He made an altar call for those who want to receive Jesus into their life. I came out and asked Jesus to come into my life and save me from sin. I tell you, Jesus came into my heart!

There was automatic change in me. The true fear of God entered and i can truly say that, the sins I use to commit, I commit no more. I started having deep appetite for the Bible. I started reading my Bible and it became food to me and prayer became a lifestyle.

December that same year, I was invited to a church program, still thirsty of God, I went to that program. I gave my life again to Jesus because I wanted Jesus so much that, I didn't want to miss any part of him.

I came back renewed and refreshed with heaven in my soul. No fear of death and hell fire any more. The joy of the Lord became my strength.

Of course I suffered intense persecution because of my new birth. I was willing to forsake all, even my university education because of Jesus. Because what Jesus did for me nobody can do it, He saved me from sin, saved me from Hell fire. My parents, relations, friends, education, money etc could not do that for me.

Besides Jesus gave me beauty for my ashes, joy for my sorrow, peace for my confusion and worries and strength for my weakness. Since then, He became my all in all and everything to me.

This is my best birthday. the day I found Jesus, the day Jesus came into my life, the day God gave birth to me into the kingdom of God, the day my sins were forgiven and set free from sin and hell fire.

Without this day my natural birth day is useless and meaninglessness, Without this day, my life should have been eternally miserable and worthless. Hence my best birthday was the day I was born into the kingdom of God became the son of God, with my name written in the book of Life.

A true life story by Christian, Z.