His Endless Love Renewed Me
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 12394 |
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August 09, 2015 |
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Brother Taesu Shin, age 30, Young Adults' Mission, South Korea
with his mother Deaconess Youngsu Oh and sister Puruem Shin
Different from my childhood, I wandered in life during my middle and high school years. It was not until I was a 12th grader that I harbored the desire for my mother to live in comfort and set a goal to enter college and succeed.
In 2004, I graduated from high school and began studying for entering college. For my study my family moved to Seoul. My mother and sister started their Christian lives through the guidance of my uncle. I would sometimes not attend Sunday Services using the excuse that I had to study.
In 2007, I was admitted to the division of Computer Science and Engineering in Hanyang University. I had achieved my first goal. But then I set another goal—to earn much money. To achieve it, I moved to another place separate from family. At first, I avidly read many books on investment techniques and studied about it. But soon I became lazy and started to play computer games. I wasn't able to tell my mother about my situation. I got a private loan to survive. The creditor harshly pressed me to pay back my debt. I became a social phobic and even wanted to commit suicide. The private loan company called my mother, and eventually she paid my debt.
I returned home but I still wanted to make a lot of money and live a successful life. I sold shoes and takoyaki on the street. I made quite a bit of money and gained confidence. But I thought I would regret it if I missed the chance to learn, although I made a lot of money and succeeded. So I returned to college in 2010.
Up until that time I attended only Sunday Morning Service. But from the beginning of 2011, I started to attend Sunday Evening Service. It's because I wanted to please my mother and sister who had always prayed for me. In the meantime, time passed into the second half of 2011.
One day when my sister greeted Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee, he asked my sister about me, saying, "What about your brother?" I heard about it later. But I felt nothing. I heard that he asked about me once again. But nothing changed. But when I heard that he asked about me for the third time, I thought, 'Senior Pastor awaits even such a person like me, though I am nothing.' And about the time I had a dream where Senior Pastor appeared.
In the dream, Senior Pastor was leaning against the wall in a humble room. It seemed hard for him even to sit up. There were workers around him. They said, "Senior Pastor, please rest lying down." But he stood up holding onto the wall with faltering steps. Before I had heard that he had lost all his energy because he had prayed for the church members with tears. But only after the dream, could I feel it was real. And, I realized his sacrifice was for me.
After I returned to college, I diligently studied. While studying physics, biology, and economics, I yearned to be as the many scholars in the fields. But one day I gained realization; 'Many intellectuals and scholars were recognized for their study and research, but was it useful and valuable when they were faced with death?'
Then I realized that the life for God's glory is the best life. And I set the best goal—to achieve the heart of spirit that resembles the Lord's heart. I wanted my life to be filled with the love of God, the Lord, and the shepherd. I tried to follow Senior Pastor who lives only by the Word. I tried to change even my facial expression, ways of speaking, fashion, hairstyle, and walking posture for God's glory.
Moreover, I armed myself with Senior Pastor's messages such as Love Chapter, the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the Beatitudes which he received from God through immeasurable amount of fasting and prayer. I thought the messages as a treasure map and believed them completely. And I prayed with the messages, applied them to my life, and tried to cast off evil. In October 2013, I stood on the rock of faith. In April 2014, I was blessed to achieve the heart of spirit. Since I entered spirit, I have had no worries and kept peaceful all the time.
I graduated from university in early 2015 and became a Levite worker in the church. I am happy to work for God's kingdom and now am preparing myself for the era of Canaan Sanctuary. I used to be arrogant and self-centered. I easily vacillated in change and had many worldly things in my heart. What renewed such a person like me was the grace of God and the Lord. And, it was the grace of the shepherd who sacrifices even his life to save his flock.
I give all thanks and glory to God who let me understand the true meaning of faith and lead a valuable life with the Lord-given vision.
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Manmin News 
