Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Although I was never one to be afraid, that afternoon I was terrified. I was afraid I was going to die before I could get to church. The next Sunday morning I went to church and started to pray, and I didn't quit praying until God came down and saved my soul. He made a wonderful change in my life! The habits and appetites of a lifetime were gone in a moment, and I had a brand new outlook on life. Until then I could never understand why people went to church. But from that day to this, they just can't have church services often enough to suit me.

After I had been saved a few weeks, I heard that I needed to be sanctified. I knew nothing about sanctification, but one night sitting in my apartment, I realized something was lacking in my life. I told God, "You know what I need. You know I want it, so please give it to me." Right there the Lord sanctified me. The glory of God filled that apartment. I couldn't stay inside. I went out and walked up and down the streets. I laughed and shouted and cried. Finally I told the Lord, "You'll have to stop now. I just can't hold any more."

I went on that way, happy in the Gospel. Then one night in a meeting, I heard a testimony that touched my heart. The Lord told me, "There's a testimony I can use because this man has his baptism." Suddenly I realized I needed that experience. I didn't understand what the baptism of the Holy Ghost was and had never seen anyone receive it, but a hunger sprang up in my heart.

그렇게 구원받고 몇 주가 흘렀고, 저는 성화가 필요하다는 이야기를 들었습니다. 성화에 대해 아는 것이 전혀 없었지만, 어느 날 저녁 저는 제 인생에 무엇인가 결핍되어 있음을 깨달았습니다. 저는 하나님께, “주님은 제가 무엇을 필요로 하는 지 아십니다. 제가 그것을 원하는 것을 주님이 아시니, 제게 그것을 주시옵소서”라고 기도했고 그 자리에서 주님은 저를 성화시켜주셨습니다. 주님의 영광이 제가 살고 있던 아파트를 가득 채웠고 저는 그 자리에 계속 있을 수 없었습니다.  
 

그후 복음 안에서 제 삶은 행복이 가득했습니다. 미팅이 있던 어느 날 밤, 저는 제 마음을 울린 한 간증을 들었습니다. 그리고 문득 저도 그의 간증과 같은 경험이 필요하다는 것을 느꼈습니다. 저는 성령의 세례라는 것이 무엇인지도, 그리고 그것을 받은 사람을 본 적도 없었지만 제 마음 속에서는 그것을 간절히 원함이 점점 커져갔습니다.   <계속>