Road to Damascus
MY ROAD TO DAMASCUS
I would like to thank Jesus for His mercy, and dying on the cross for me. My first Road to Damascus begins in a little town of Manila, called Quiapo. In my third year in high school, I became good friends with a young man name Joseph, who invited me to a Bible Study in the campus. It was there I first heard about Jesus Christ and how He would be coming back soon. Our Bible Study teacher, Pastor Nomer Trinidad told me much about the Gospel, about end time events and the Tribulation, and about Hell. God planted it in my heart to believe what he said, and it scared me.
After a year, my friend, Joseph graduated from high school leaving me responsible to gather the other students in the campus for Bible Study. I began to think that it was very difficult for me to do such responsibility, so I also stopped attending Bible Study. That’s the time I became so exposed to temptations, I could do nothing against it. I was easily tempted and carried away by evil influences. I became an easy prey for the Devil. I found myself a member of a notorious gang in our town. I learned to smoke, at first cigarettes then later on marijuana.
I wanted to live life my way, but I ended up getting myself into a lot of trouble. Drugs had a hold into my life. I had problems with anger and had a whole bunch of sins attached to my life.
One night, I was high in drugs that I felt an evil presence stood just a few feet from where I was sitting. I couldn’t see it, but I could sense it. Satan was laughing at me and taunting me saying, “You’ll die! You’ll die!” Fear gripped me and I trembled in terror.
Although I hadn’t prayed in years, I tried to pray, “God forgive me. God help me! I’ll never smoke marijuana again! I’ll stop taking drugs!” But as soon as I’d said it, God showed me I didn’t mean it. Oh, how ashamed I felt! However, God had heard my prayer. The evil spirit left and I felt a peace of mind and heart that I’ve never felt before.
I cannot forget that night. My cry for help was sincere, even though my promises were not. But I know what God had begun in my life, he will also complete it. He made me aware of where I was, where I once had been, and where I was headed if I continued in a life of worldliness and drug addiction.
Memories of true joy haunted me. Slowly I realized how I’d turned my back on God and stubbornly refused to obey Him, and where my rebellion had brought me. Those things which promised fun, excitement, thrills, and satisfaction eventually became my master. The fun was gone, and the habits which I’d acquired had me bound.
Seeking peace and release from these habits, my parents decided to bring me to rehabilitation center. But my addictions never got any better. I only found myself deeper in bondage. I learned to steal to sustain my evil habits. I began to realize the enormous price I was paying for “a little fun.”
