What Does It Really Mean to be a Child of God?

Father and Child (Courtesy of 4144132 from pixabay.com)

I grow up in a catholic family. My grandma and even the rest of my family serves in the church that is why I am very much familiar with the word "church" and "Christian". I used to serve in the church as a part of the collectors for tithes and offerings in elementary and treasurer of Daughters of Mary Immaculate - Calamba Chapter when I was in high school.

I used to go with my grandma whenever there will be a "station of the cross" in our barangay and if we have gone to other places aside from that, I can't perfectly recall it. I used to be excited whenever I hear "Bisita Iglesia" because that will only mean one thing for me, we will travel from places to places to visit different churches. I used to be excited too whenever my parents are invited to do "Pasyon" in places other than our own house because probably, there will be lots of food available for free. I used to be excited whenever we start the songs but not when the clock struck at midnight or at dawn for that's when I yawn and fall asleep. I used to talk to our "Sto. Niño" like how I talk to a brother of mine because of the date engraved in its stand which is three days before my birthday.

I used to claim that I am a "Christian" but whenever there is someone who asked me if I am a Christian, I always tell them I am a "Catholic".

Isn't it absurd?

I used to correct them whenever they asked me that question even though I am a Christian since the Lord I know is "Jesus". I used to attend the "Sunday Mass" and actively participate whenever the choir sings "Christian Songs". I used to love everything I learned ever since childhood, there is too many to mention but not until I learned to think about it.

I became busy in school and learned to have fun with friends. I find it harder to attend the Sunday mass and serve God as days passed by. I don't know when it started but doubt began to grow in my heart. Then one day, I started to question my own tradition.

"Why am I doing it?"

"Is it even worth it?"

I became weary and things started to change. Whenever I have a chance, I find a way to make it to the Sunday mass because I wanted to hear something that can enlighten my feelings. But whenever the Sunday mass ended, one thing comes in my mind,

"That's it? It's already done?"

Something felt wrong inside me. It felt like something is missing. I felt like there's something that needs to be filled, my heart perhaps. Then that's when I started to ask,

"Is God really true?"

"Is Bible a legit source for everything?"

But later on, I realized that there is no reason for me to question God. He is REAL. I am just affected with my emotions that time. My emotions just went up and down like a mere teenager. Till later in my college years, I have met a group of Christians who held fellowship gatherings right there in our school campus and the real deal is that my thesis mates belong to that fellowship group. It was years in gap when I doubt God and His words till that realization of mine.

I started to attend that fellowship gathering and things started to change. It is a very heartwarming experience. How many times have I encountered people who introduced Jesus as my life's savior? Only God knows how long my list is.

It's a culture shock at first but whenever we talked about Jesus, I can't contain the longing inside me - the feelings I kept for so many years. The tears just can't stop from flowing - tears not only from my eyes but from within.

"How fool I was to doubt God when I am struggling and worship Him when I am happy?'"

Not only is He but also His words which have been written by His precious disciples. I repent and repent and repent. A simple sorry is not enough but I will not grow tired of humbling down myself in front of Christ, my Lord and Savior.

I learned to love and forgive myself from my dark past. I learned to love playing Christian songs even during our thesis class. My thesis mates whom I became friends with thank me for having that courage but that is not what matter most. It is the fact that at least in that time of day, my classmate and professor can hear encouraging and enlightening words made just to lift God's grace. Instead of focusing on our thesis, our times mostly went for our devotion to God whenever we have overnight in their houses. Most of the time, we talked about Jesus, listened to worship songs about God, and even watched Christian videos. That is my first time to watch "Anima Series" and "Revealing Jesus". Anima Series presents different encouraging videos that will really enlighten the hearts and souls of their Christian viewers and as a youth that time, it really moved my heart closer to Jesus and His love. Revealing Jesus is a Christian Worship Concert that made me want to be right there where they are. I really felt their spirits and their love and hunger for God.

I am on fire that time that I wished it will never end till I came to know "As One" family, group of Christian from different places in Laguna or even broader than that. I experienced what their service for God is like and it made me wonder,

"Why are they raising their hands?"

"Am I gonna do it too?"

"I wanna copy them. Am I allowed to?"

"They're crying."

It is a question mark for sure but whenever I think about God and the words the Pastor told us about Him and His love for us, it made me cry too, a lot. It made me wants to repeat that overwhelming experience and go on but after some meetings, I stopped midway. It felt like there is still something that I want to do - to experience but I don't know what it is.

Time passed by and we have finally graduated from college. I parted ways with my friends and it is very seldom for us to meet just to unwind and bond like how we used to when we are still in college. Things are unlike before. We all have our own job to satisfy our family's needs and wants. I have had jobs, became an entrepreneur and an associate medical team of our company in a flash but it does not end there. I thought it will be easier for me to support our finances but there are so many ups and downs in my career to the point that I even had a conflict in my family.

But God is GOOD. You know why?

Because His plan for my life is greater than my own plan and same goes for you who is reading this passage right now. Before I encounter God, I only think about myself, my status, my image, my finances, my network, my family, my goals, etc... I listen to Christian songs and I learned to attend the Sunday mass again but the bottom line is everything STILL revolves around me. I contradicted my parents that time which had also contributed to the downfall of my business. But now, given a new life and a new name which is "UNBEATEN", I will not go back to my dark sinful past. I have now realized my most important quality and that is my IDENTITY as a child of God.

Thanks to my "Nanay in Faith" as well as the rest of the LJCC Family, I have realized so many things in my life as a Christian. Religion is not what matters most to Jesus, the only way, truth and life. What matters to Him is our deep spiritual relationship to Him as our only Lord and Savior. I learned to realize that the "CHURCH" is not a building or any kind of infrastructure, it is the group of people worshipping the same God and that is Jesus. I learned to realize that going to church every Sunday Mass physically will not make a person a "CHRISTIAN". Your spirit must be there and it is not only every Sunday but every time of the day. More than being nice, it is our "SOULS" that can make our God happy - the lost souls of His children who are willing to surrender their lives and come back to God's arm. Despite of our "BUSYNESS", we must make a way to worship God and thank Him for His blessings to us whereas the best example of it is our "LIFE".

There are so many false Gods that we need to be aware of in this current generation but ONLY God deserve our highest praises and worship. Before, I used to spend most of my time in doing secular activities holding my mobile phone whenever I go even after waking up in the morning. But as part of my devotion to God after the encounter, doing my "JOURNAL" is already part of my basic LIFESTYLE. There are so many things that God had changed in my life but the INNER PEACE and HAPPINESS He gave me is one of the most that I am really thank for.

Read the following with your HEART...

According to ROMANS 6:23, "FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."

Let us analyze it one by one.

"WAGES" means something that we need to pay in return of a favor; payment is the most basic term for this.

"SIN" is something we did that is not in accordance to God's law. I myself acknowledge that I have sinned, some are hidden and others are not.

Ask yourself now - think about it for a minute or so. What have you done all these years of your life that is not in favored with God? If there is, only God and you can know it.

The "DEATH" that we are talking about here is not the physical but the SPIRITUAL DEATH of a person.

It is said in the bible that once we have sinned in the eyes of our Lord who is OMNIPRESENT, we will die spiritually but there is a "BUT" - a very simple word with a great effect in our life whereas it contradicts the first phrase.

It is said that the "GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE". Our God is GOOD despite all the sins we have done all this time. He is willing to grant us an eternal life in only one condition. It is to accept "JESUS CHRIST" as "OUR LORD" and savior.

My friend who is reading this passage right now, YOU deserve to ENCOUNTER GOD in your life. The best day to seek Jesus is years ago but TODAY is the second best day to decide.

Are you willing to acknowledge that you have sinned, hidden or not in front of the Lord?

Are you willing to accept Jesus as your own Lord and Savior?

This is your time to think about your past life - memories from when you are born up to this moment, happy or sad, whatever it is. Think about the last time you opened the bible and talked about God.

Only You and God know the answer right now, but the most impotant question is ARE YOU READY TO BE A CHILD OF GOD?

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