Heaven-Bound

My testimony

I grew up in a Catholic family and attended Catholic schools for my primary and secondary education, as well as a Catholic university. When I was young, I was reasonably aware of a higher being beyond my understanding, but I did not know who precisely that being was. Most of my schooling and Catholic studies were mental information and did not enter my heart. I went to church and did Catholic duties, but my heart was far away from God. I tried to read the Bible, but something was missing - I was reading it like a novel, and it didn't have any lasting effect on my life; it didn't make much sense. My life revolved around myself - my talents, my desires, my name, and my benefit. My passion at the time was to be rich, famous, successful, and happy.

 

In my first year of university, at the age of 17, my theology teacher introduced me to a different Jesus from what I had known all my life. She shared with me the deep love that God has for me and the desire of God to have a close relationship with me. She shared that Jesus came into the world to rescue me from my sins. At that time, it made complete sense to me: the higher being I knew as a young person became more evident to me, and that being wanted to be a friend to me. I also discovered that my selfishness and self-centeredness are empty and for nothing, as they never gave me true happiness. And so, I began a new venture in my life - to follow Jesus with all my heart for the rest of my life. I turned away from a selfish life to a new life under the Lordship of Jesus lived in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

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Things slowly began to change. After giving my life to God, the words in the Bible leapt with meaning and application for my life - it's as if the Bible was written for me. I began to pray daily. My selfish attitude began to change; I remember my family, especially my parents, saw a significant change in my life- that I was becoming more patient, forgiving, and loving, especially in how I related with my brothers and sisters. When I attend church, the words of the priest become real to me. When I pray in church, it goes through the heart, not just the head. All the Catholic rituals and activities became 100 times more meaningful to me.

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I became involved in a prayer group at the university after my conversion experience. After a while, I was invited to join a Christian Community where I received teaching, support, and personal care for my faith. After a few years in the community, I realized that the Christian community I belong to will be my home, even though it is not my true and ultimate home - heaven. The Christian community will be my home base so I can mature, grow, thrive, and serve others.

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As I moved on, I sought God to learn how I could love Him and serve Him. I married my loving and supportive Christian wife, and we raised a Christian family. I have two daughters who are now married, and I have tried to raise them in the knowledge and love of God. I never forced them; I just shared with them my journey of why I am a Christian, and it is up to them to decide if they want to be a Christian or not. They have also decided to follow Jesus. Now, I have two sweet granddaughters, too.

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Life has not been a bed of roses, though. My sinfulness and self-centeredness keep on trying to take hold of my life and are still there, up to now trying to take over me. Honestly, at times, they succeed. My career also presented many challenges, especially during my early years of marriage, including conflicts with officemates and redundancy. As much as I tried to be a good husband and father, I know I have failed many times. Even now, after more than forty years of following Jesus, I still struggle with my sinful nature.

 

Even so, as I studied more and more about God’s existence and Christian apologetics, I am more and more convinced that God is real, Christianity is true, and there are heaven and hell. I am convinced that my true home is with God in heaven, for nothing in this life truly satisfies me.

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My goal in life is to share the one true God that I discovered more than forty years ago with as many people as possible, making Him known, loved, and followed. I know that my life on earth passes quickly, so I want to share God’s love with all that I can, when I can, until God calls me to my true and lasting home.