Cole’s Story: From Atheist to Alive in Christ
How an Unbeliever Found Freedom in Jesus
John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Cole Nielsen’s life is proof of that.
Cole grew up in Southern California and never gave God much thought. He didn’t go to church or read the Bible. In high school, he called himself an atheist and thought Christians were just people who followed strict rules and missed out on life. He believed that real freedom was doing whatever you wanted.
But no matter how much Cole chased fun and pleasure, he couldn’t escape the heavy feeling in his heart. There was guilt, sadness, and something deeper — like a voice inside him asking, “Is this really all there is?”
He tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t go away. He thought, “If life has no meaning, then why do I feel like it does?”
A New Kind of Teacher
Things started to change when Cole took a science class in college. He expected the professor to be like everyone else — someone who believed science and faith didn’t mix.
But the professor surprised him. He said he was a Christian and wasn’t embarrassed about it. He was smart, honest, and passionate about both science and his faith.
That challenged Cole’s thinking. Maybe believing in God didn’t mean giving up on truth. Maybe faith and logic could actually work together.
Facing the Darkness
After leaving college, Cole began seeing how broken the world really is. He noticed evil everywhere — violence, hate, pain. It bothered him more than ever before.
And then it hit him. If true evil exists, then real goodness must exist too. And if there’s a standard of good and evil, maybe there’s a God who sets that standard.
Even harder than that was realizing something else: the evil wasn’t just in the world — it was inside him too.
Trying to Change Didn't Work
Cole started reading the Bible. He learned that God is holy and hates sin — not just severe sins like murder, but also pride, lust, and selfishness. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Cole knew that included him.
So he tried to fix himself. He tried to stop doing wrong things. But no matter how hard he worked, he kept failing.
He was tired. Exhausted. Spent. He wept. And finally, he said the words that changed everything: “I can’t do it.”
The Gospel That Saves
That’s when the truth of the gospel finally made sense. He realized Jesus didn’t come to give him a list of rules. Jesus came to rescue him.
Cole didn’t need to be perfect — Jesus already lived the perfect life.
He didn’t need to carry his guilt — Jesus took it on the cross.
He didn’t need to earn God’s love — Jesus already paid the price.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
In that moment, Cole gave his life to Christ. And his life changed.
A New Beginning
Today, Cole is 26. He’s married to his high school sweetheart, and they have a baby — with another one on the way. Life isn’t perfect, but Cole has peace.
He once mocked Christians, but now he is one. He once thought faith was fake, but now it’s his foundation.
He knows who saved him. And now, he wants everyone else to know too.
Want to learn more about Cole? Check out his substack here:
https://substack.com/@colevnielsen
He also has a book on Amazon!
Conclusion
If you’ve ever felt like Cole — full of questions, guilt, or confusion — know this: you don’t have to fix yourself before coming to Jesus.
Jesus is ready to meet you right where you are. And just like He did for Cole, He can change your life too.
Call to Repentance
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.
Call to Action
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"Even harder than that was realizing something else: the evil wasn’t just in the world — it was inside him too." — This is a hard uncomfortable truth for not only non-believers, but even many believers too, who think that they're good people.
"I can't do it."
Those saving words.. the point of knowing we can't do this life without God.
Thank you, Mare & Cole.