The True Friend in Jesus
Gregory Greenwood, Christian Brother, Deaf
B.C. Canada
First, I would like to ask you to read Ephesians 3:14 to 21 in the Bible. These verses tell about the full love of Jesus, while some other verses like Romans 8:39 and 1 Corinthians 13:13 also speak of love…but Ephesians verses speaks of His amazing love in such depths!
As to my testimony…it is, to me is a rough and enduring road. It never stops until the Second Coming. It began about 18 years ago that I first know about the love of Jesus Christ at the age of 13. I did know of Jesus before that as a little lad in Bible stories, from TV and pictures on walls but never understand His important role. There, me as a 13-years old lad went to a local church that many deaf people go. The church no longer stands there (it faded many years ago, the pastor gets very old and some issues). This pastor had told me a wonderful story about Jesus died on the cross and I accepted in my heart in private. It was in Feb 14th in 1982.
Well, I will admit the real reason why I went to the church on that date. You see…the pastor had hosted a party for St. Valentine’s Day for deaf people to have fun. I went there because of one girl I sort of like! Guess who changed my choice!
But as I get older, the teenager in me and of my other friends jeering me because of my relationship with Christ. It was hard on me and Satan knew that! The Devil used that chance to break up the link in Christ and me. In no time, I get more wandering a little and that the facts I found about the other churches and Deaf Christians having many agurments about the bible and hell, how Jesus would come in what manner. That made me confused and feels that it is too much and difficult for me to understand why God would allow that!
I had left my Bible on shelf and left the church, joining the dark world with friends for the next 10 years. Did Jesus forget me all the time? He never forgets. He still remembered me and wanted me back! How, you asked?
It was quite an incredible adventure that Jesus placed me on the path since 1994. It all began on the day I returned back from Whistler Mountain, having done my skiing there. I was a "Daredevil" in me, doing reckless feats. Driving in my old car, racing along with friends at high speeds. I made a fatal mistake in going too fast in trying get pass ahead one friend’s truck ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD! That was a 2-lane road. My car did get ahead my friend’s…but also out of control, shifting around in sideways at the same speed. I was alive in escaping the near-fatal mishap, my car undamaged and over a dozen cars past me – ALL UNDAMAGED! In the middle of that mishap, my head was "whammed" with a strong thought inside my mind. The thought said in me," Do You Really Know Jesus That Well?" Image me in the car while I was frozen in shock and my car swinging sideways and this thought come up there!
It left me in much thoughts about myself and had to admit in front of God that I truly don’t know Jesus Christ very well, that there must be more to Jesus than what many people in common know of Him. There, I finally made a prayer for my sins in the longest time since. I asked God to show me everything about Jesus Christ and wanted to know further deeper in Him in the Bible. Many times I asked that again and God answered that with a very interesting method!
I come face to face with some of my old Christian brothers and sisters everywhere and some few new ones sent by God. Within a year, I yield to God and gave up my old life for good. Little by little given from Jesus by Holy Spirit…I get to learn more about Him. Over time, God see that I can stand for more truths of what many churches never told. Also, I get to see amazing perceives in Christ in His role since the Beginning, His importance with the Ten Commandments, the death on the cross forecasted by prophets in Old Testament and Jesus’ messages to us with love from His apostles.
For the next 5 years, I have come to understand why God allows the world it is in this way, His great love to us all. Mind that, my life is not easy in what you may think! I think that something ahead will be great through my life and that something worthy is being planned for me. You see, I had always wanted to share the Gospel with Deaf people in North America and other areas. I feel that many in North America are truly lost from Christ because of our deafness differences. It is to my dream that I be able to reach them and show them a better way to have relationship in Jesus and know His love there!
I have faced many failures, temptations and fought through (will always ahead), but as long I kept my faith, my love to Jesus…anything can be overcome! With Jesus, it is possible! Anyone like you, who wants to know more…you are not that far from Him, just ask for answers and we would be happy to help!
I want each of you to think this thought deeply what I had got years ago. Be true and honest in yourself to answer this thought…Do You Really Know Jesus Christ very Well?
I hope that you will come to see what kind of person Jesus is, for I look forward with earnest in His Second Coming in His greatest grandness and to be with Him ever and ever!
With Christ’s love,
Gregory