Celebrating my 17th
Tomorrow at exactly 2:20pm, I will celebrate my 17th sabbath day in. Basically, the day I accepted and was baptized in to be a part of Members Church of God International.
Probably the best decision I was able to make, especially at the age of 14. Why? Because I had found the purpose of my life, my true north. By this, it affected all the things that I do and do not do. Everything revolves to what I believed and accepted. Directly or indirectly.
Before you jump to conclusion, I want you to open your mind for a few minutes while reading this. To be clear, I have no intention to make myself look ‘holier than though’ or self righteous, nor to attack you or those who doesn’t share my belief. My intention is to get your attention and maybe convince you to spend some time questioning your current belief system (1 John 4:1), and assess the results or the benefits out of it.
Ever since, after accepting the complete, sound doctrine of Christ, I started to have with a different mindset and lifestyle, a peculiar one, building inner peace through faith and experiences, day after day, year after year.
With that, I’ve been doing things differently which eventually I realized is beneficial for me and everyone who’s around me.
One of the common questions that I get from time to time (almost everytime I turned down an offer to drink or invites on drinking sessiosn) is why I don’t drink alcoholic drinks. I explain why, because it was one of the doctrines that I accepted (Galatians 5:21).
Practically speaking it makes sense to me.
Because I don’t drink, there’s zero chance that I will be alcoholic. Sure, not everyone who drinks turns to an alcoholic, but you can’t be sure if you won’t get addicted to it.
More benefits that I get because I don’t drink:
- I have less expenses
- I’m less prone to liver-failure or related diseases
- I do not experience hang-overs
- I rarely not experience or be exposed to violence due to alcohol driven events (we all know that some people lose their control to the point that becomes violent after drinking)
- I don’t have a beer belly!
- Some people say I look younger (compared 32 years old who drinks regularly)
There’s probably a few more, but that’s more than enough reason not to do so.
That’s one of the things I experience after changing my religion (my family have a long history, switching from one religion sect to another).
One more benefits that I experienced and wanted to share, specially the part where in any, as in ANY problem that I encounter barely worries me.
Of course, as a human being, I still experience things that looks negative and problems (small and big ones), but it barely bothers me now. Is it because I’m strong? I don’t think so, but I do believe that It’s because of my faith, that I have Christ in me (2 Corinthians 12:10) and that all things happen for the benefit to those who loves God. (Romans 8:28, John 14:15).
At this point, some will say it’s weird, or too much, or it’s too good to be true, or too optimistic, etc.
Who celebrates the day they received their baptism, right? As I have said it’s peculiar, but then again, especially if you know me really well, I don’t do or accept something that has no proof nor something that doesn’t make sense or beneficial.
And If you know me well, you know that I love humor, but even if it’s not serious, we all know that good jokes, most of the time, it just makes sense, which makes it funny.
TL:DR; I wrote this because I want to take the opportunity to get your attention, and share it because I find it practical and beneficial. I’m just hoping that by showing a glimpse of my experiences, you or someone will be curious, especially those who are lost, looking for the purpose of life (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Anyway, going back to the other reason why I wrote this. I just wanted to say how grateful I am to see this day. This year is probably the most challenging year after losing my Dad. Still, as I am grateful for everything, for without it, I will not grow and be who I am right now.
I thank God for everything, for taking care of me and my love ones, my friends, and the things that happened and didn’t happened.
I thank God for all the blessings, opportunities, strength, etc., basically His kindness despite of my shortcomings and mistakes, failing Him from time to time.
I can’t enumerate everything that I’m thankful for, all I can say is that all thanks and glory be to God.
