In the beginning, we went to church because our relatives were Christians. After awhile, one day, I made the personal decision to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was 14 years old at the time. When I became 19, I got baptized and have been a Christian ever since. Yes I may not see God w/ the naked eye , hear his loud voices, but felt his presence, his love like we feel air around us. We don't see air but when we see the trees moving, we know it's air.
Afterlife: it's great you strive for righteousness in yourself and in others but the greatest commandment of these is LOVE. Nurture this and your life will be blissful, at peace.