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By Ricardo Watson, JAMAICA
My godly mother gave her children, my two brothers, a sister and me, a wonderful heritage. She took us to church faithfully. We started out in the Pentecostal denomination but later began attending a Methodist church. Mother did not force religion on us or lead us to Christ, so we children did not know the need for salvation.
Our family was also privileged to attend Christian schools—from elementary through secondary. My parents could not afford to send me to university so I left school to learn auto mechanics and earn my tuition. I saved enough money to send myself to university for three full years. I studied industrial technology with a major in teaching, so I am qualified both to work with practical things and to teach.
With my training behind me, I secured employment with the Light and Power Company of Jamaica. I was doing well on my job, drove a company vehicle and faithfully attended church services. But I felt an emptiness in my life; I realized there was a void that needed to be filled. I began to seek God and to cry out to Him.
Our family left the Methodist Church and went to the Jamaica Evangelical Church, still seeking God. Shortly after that move my mother was diagnosed with cancer. The x-rays showed a growth inside her body. The doctor said she urgently needed an operation. Mother asked that she be allowed to go for prayer before the surgery. When the operation was performed, there was no growth to remove— absolutely nothing! The doctors confirmed that a tremendous divine healing had taken place.
I kept studying the Bible and continually seeking God. At 3:30 one morning, I was awakened by the Holy Spirit and led to read Galatians chapter three. I got up, put on the lights and began reading. I sensed that Jesus Christ, Himself, was literally standing beside me. I was reading, but it seemed we were communicating. I was saying, “Lord, I didn’t realize who You were. I know of You, but I don’t know You.” As I continued reading—and conversing, there was no fear, just a reverence for the presence of God. I can say that was the first time I understood that chapter.
I went back to bed and prayed and tears flowed. That was the first time I prayed and wept. I thought crying was a “woman thing” and a man must be tough and not cry. However, I realized then that brokeness is strength in eternal life, and I released my will to the will of Christ. I asked God to forgive me for not receiving Jesus as Lord, and I invited Him into my heart and life. It was a life-changing experience.
When I woke up the next morning I further realized what had happened. I could now read anywhere in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and see Jesus Christ in the Word. I could not do that before. When I read the Bible or the pastor read it, I would believe it because I felt it must be true. I had studied the Bible as part of my curriculum in school and actually took an exam and passed it. I have a certificate to prove it. But after that experience I could see Jesus Christ in the Word without anyone explaining it to me.
Before I met the Lord, I used to have fearful dreams that would often wake me up. From that night to the present even my dreams have been transformed. There is no more fear. I also saw a transformation in my praying. I found that prayer is really a link to God, just like a telephone. It keeps us strong in faith and prevents lukewarmness.
Before I came to Christ, I was a dedicated worker. But after my conversion experience, I became a witness. I just had to share the good news of salvation through Christ. It was powerful. I could not contain it; it was like holding too much water in my mouth; eventually I had to spit it out. When I began witnessing in the workplace, my friends could not understand it. They wondered what this new thing in my life was and if it was real. Some people thought a girl had changed my mind.
I concluded that serving God was more important than marrying or having a home and a car. The Bible tells us: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). So I became really committed to the Lord and focused on Him. I told Him that I would not seek for a wife myself. I knew I would look and judge according to the flesh—her physical appearance, her academic qualifications, etc. So I said, “Lord, I give the choice of a wife to You.” The Lord answered my prayer in a remarkable way.
My pastor’s daughter, newly returned from her university studies in the U.S.A., planned a trip for our church group to attend a conference held in the city where she had studied. I told her I would like to go on this trip. There were about 19 of us in the group—a number of pastors, mature members of the church and her mother and mine. We flew to Miami where we rented two minivans and then drove for two days to the conference. I was one of the drivers. Two of the pastors and my pastor’s daughter were in my van. As we fellowshipped, one of the men said, “Both of you young people love the Lord and neither of you are married. What is your requirement for a wife?” he asked me.
I replied, “It is so simple, you won’t believe it. Someone that loves God and people and does not the love the world to the extent that it will distract her.”
Of course, I had no idea the young lady was looking for the same qualities in a man. I thought, She is the bishop’s daughter and well trained abroad—at the university in the U.S.A. and in TV operation in Canada. Some preacher somewhere must have engaged this fine young woman. After the trip, I left her in Miami and flew home to Jamaica. But there was a tugging at my heart. I said to myself, “I am a man. I should not have this funny feeling.”
We began to phone each other long distance. I had no idea that the young lady was feeling the same tugging in her heart. In a few weeks we both had the understanding that we were attracted to each other. We wanted to be absolutely sure this was the will of God and not just a fleshly desire. We did not want to make a mistake at our age—I was 37; she was 35. For pre-marital counseling, we went to the island of Trinidad to a counselor who did not know us. We shared some things with him and then we waited on the Holy Spirit to reveal us to each other. Our counseling sessions were more like a three-person church; the presence of the Lord was so powerful in our midst.
The Word of God was like a mirror in these counseling sessions. We realized that a lot of garbage had to be dumped before we could trust one another in relationship. Even a person’s religious past can figure into a relationship. One session was so traumatic that tears flowed. The counselor said we should go and work those things out individually and trust the Holy Spirit to lead us back. I went home to Jamaica; she went back to the U.S.A.
When we both returned to the sessions, the counselor said, “I see a transformation. I see that you are now ready to be married.” Neither one of us had said a word to him.
We were married September 20, 1997. I am so glad I waited on the Lord for a wife; He sent the right person into my life. It is so precious to be in a loving relationship where both of us are are pure and clean. We did not bring any spiritual garbage from any sexual contact into the marriage relationship.
I would say to young people everywhere, keep yourself to yourself. Wait on the Lord and ask Him to send the right person into your life. It is not wise to say, “I’ll taste and see and get the experience.” You’ll bring that garbage into your marriage; it will complicate your relationship. You won’t miss anything by keeping yourself pure; sex outside of marriage is not love. I’d advise you to take it one step further and go into counseling before you marry. Counseling proved to be a great blessing to our marriage.
To all the readers of this publication, I would like to share a word concerning the salvation experience. Salvation is for everyone whether you are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or any other religion; your color, background or past experiences do not matter. Jesus Christ invites everyone male and female everywhere to come to Him. He is not some dead prophet to whose belief and philosophy we ascribe. He is LIFE! Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). You have to receive Him into your life and be filled with His Holy Spirit. You will never feel empty again, for He will satisfy you. He said to His disciples, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn. 6:35). To the woman at the well He said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (Jn. 4:10).
Man can deny his flesh but spiritually he cannot transform himself. However, believing and confessing by faith that Jesus is Lord will transform you dramatically. Christ’s supernatural force will enable you to release hurts, anger, habits and all that binds you. The transformation I have seen in my life is a testimony to the goodness of God and the salvation found in His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ is not a religion; He is LIFE.
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