Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Baptismal Testimony


<< Though I was ever-so excited to see the day when I will be water-baptized, I also dreaded that day, when I have to write my baptismal testimony.
You see, I have always thought of myself as a poor writer. And to write one of the most important compositions of my life haunted me. But by God's grace, I have done it! To God be the glory! >>

I was born and raised to a Catholic family. Back then, I thought I was doing pretty well in life - I didn't hurt anybody, I read the Bible once in a while, went to mass every Sunday and prayed the rosary. I even went to a Catholic school.

I was oblivious to how grave my situation is until my then-officemate shared the gospel and invited me to attend a worship service of a Filipino-Chinese Church near our place. At first, I was irritated and made every excuses not to go. To stop him, I finally accepted the invite. "It's just one Sunday, and the church is nearby anyway", I thought.

At first, I was impressed by the grandeur of the church. The place was very well-kept. There were sermon handouts. The pastor had a good message prepared, and the people were very nice and welcome-y. These things made me come back week after week, supplying me with more knowledge about God and the Bible. But my heart was still hardened. I still didn't accepted Him as Lord and Ruler of my life.

Things had changed when I joined another church's youth camp. During my one-on-one session with our group counselor, she invited me to pray the sinner's prayer, but I declined. I was scared of the huge and life-long commitment (you know, you're dealing with God!). But she explained that even faith comes from God. After that session, in my room, I prayed to God, submitted all my fears to Him, asked for His forgiveness, and let Him take charge of my life.

Since then, my perspective in life had changed. I'm not anymore the person who lives to get what I want and strives hard to be what I wish to become. Living a single day with Him as the focus : to fear and love the God Who laid down Himself so that a worthless sinner like me can live, keeps me now going.

I am still a work-in-progress, I still have my fears while being inflicted by my brokenness. But I believed that God promised that "neither death, nor life...nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us [me] from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord".

I am, and will never be fulfilled as each day I walk closer with Him. All thanks and praises to God!

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