My Story
Who am I? What is my purpose here? Is God real? If He is real, why is there so much pain and suffering in this world? Are Heaven and Hell real? If so, how do I get to Heaven? Am I good enough to go to Heaven after I die? Those were questions I grappled with for a very long time. So many beliefs with so many different answers that left me wondering and guessing even more.
One fateful day after Christmas in 2002, my entire life was completely changed after my wife of nine years called me at work to tell me she was not happy and did not want to be married any more. I was told to move out or she would leave with our three children. I was in complete shock. How did I get here? What had just happened? Where would I go from there? Would I ever see my kids again? Any parent who has gone through a similar trauma would probably understand the pain I experienced. One father likened it to a heart surgery without anesthesia.
Subsequently, I lost my will to live. I called my brother to tell him everything and in a way to say goodbye. I knew he would understand my overwhelming state of devastation as he too had gone through a similar event not long before. After listening to me ramble for what seemed like forever, he said, "Without God, you will never make it." He then gave me a pamphlet to read. As I read the pamphlet, I found the message to be life-changing! It literally saved me! It took me from a place of utter despair and put me on a new path in life. Despite the ups and down and the twists and turns in life, I am still living with hope, joy, and peace that nothing or no one can take from me. My only regret now is that I wish I had made this decision years sooner.
So what was the message? What was the decision I made? How did it give me a new life? Here goes:
In contrast, God is perfect, so perfect that we cannot come close to understanding with our own limitations His ways, His plans and His love. But like oil and water, perfection cannot be mixed with imperfection. (2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 18:30, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15) So when judged on the basis of our works, none of us can make it to Heaven because we all have made mistakes. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Let me explain. If you were to appear in court for shoplifting, would you be spared because you stole one item compared to someone who stole two items? Or could you be spared because of all of your charitable works in the past? The fact is that theft is theft no matter the number or the kind of items that were stolen or how much you have donated to charity. Likewise, Heaven is a place intended for Saints and none of us can make it when judged by a perfect God. (Romans 6:23, Isaiah 64:6, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 20:11-12)
So how can God, in His perfect love, let us all be condemned and be eternally separated from Him? Well, here is the good news. God knows it is impossible for any of us to get to Heaven on our own merits. But because He loves us all so much, He made a way for us to be with Him in eternity. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us, to take our place. Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed His life for all our mistakes past, present, and future. (John 3:16-17, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 5:8, 1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 2:14) So the hard work is already done. He settled our debts. All that is left for us to do now is to choose. Either we believe Christ died for us and we submit to Him or we reject that belief. That’s it. It is that simple. (John 3:36, John 5:24, John 11:25, Romans 10:9) It was that very simple truth that opened my eyes. I realized there was no other way to get to Heaven. (John 14:6, John 10:9, Act 4:12) If there were, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die for any of us!
Since the day I believed, my fear of death disappeared in an instant. I have no longer carried that burden, that nagging feeling of knowing that someday, somehow I would have to give an account of all my mistakes. The indescribable elation and sense of freedom gave me a new purpose in life and a new insight. (John 8:36, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Acts 13:38-39) I can now approach Him with this overwhelming awe and gratitude. I now have the Holy Spirit in me guiding me and showing me the way. And the best part is I am never alone! How awesome is that! (Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20)
Why am I telling you this? First, let me start by saying I don’t get a penny for sharing this, nor is this a sneaky way of swaying you to join a church, a religion, a company, or any organization you can think of. Freely I received the message, freely I give you. Would you not tell anyone if you were struck by lightning? Would you not tell anyone if someone were to pay off all your debts? So how can I not share with you my life-changing experience and the fullness of joy in life I now have? God has blessed me with so much that I could write a book about it. This is my way of testifying that God is real and He has changed my life.
In my opinion, some of the most profound illusions in life tend to be:
1. "There is time. There is always tomorrow" - One thing this pandemic has taught me for sure is that life is so short and unpredictable. No one knows if there is tomorrow. Death is a cruel ending that waits for no one.
2. "I’m ok and you’re ok" - The truth is no one is ok. We all are imperfect beings that have lied, cheated, hurt, harmed or done something that is not pleasing to God.
3. "There is another way to Heaven" - Being exposed to various religions growing up, I can say only the Bible speaks with absolute authority about God and about eternity.
You don’t have to believe any of this and feel free to stop right here. But my prayer is that you will keep reading. Not only is it difficult to get through this life without God's strength, love, and gentle guidance, it is downright dreadful to imagine an eternity away from Him. I urge you to carefully consider this crucial question: do you know where you will spend eternity, and how can you be certain? Take a moment to review the Bible verses I've referenced and see for yourself the promises within. The choice is ultimately yours. Would you believe with all your heart that Christ died for all your mistakes past, present and future? Would you commit the rest of your life to following Him? If your answer is yes, then I congratulate you on your decision. Next, you are probably wondering how you can let God know your decision. I can tell you God has been waiting patiently to hear from you. Through prayer, tell Him everything! Tell Him all your mistakes and how sorry you are. Acknowledge that you now believe Christ died for all your mistakes. And from the bottom of your heart, commit to turning away from your sins and to following Him the rest of your life. I know there are prayer templates out there to cover all this. The truth is God cares more about a humble, contrite heart than eloquent words. Just like a wedding vow, it really is a one-time decision that leads to a lifetime pursuit of knowing Him and pleasing Him.
Thank you for sharing your time with me. My encouragement to you now is to read the Bible. It is God’s love letter to you. May His words guide you and transform you.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16