I knew this is coming but still I cant help but cry

At the young age of 16, due to many questions, controversies and issues left unanswered even by his own church leaders, he left his religion and started the venture of searching his soul and savior. It might have been really a nature of humanity to seek for a God whom he can worship, in Jeff’s case, he did for many years.

But even though he has heard teachings of several churches, his heart and mind was not yet convinced.. until he decided to study medicine in the Philippines. Not that he knew, his apartment was surrounded by Adventist tenants whom he saw leaving their houses in modest clothes every Saturday morning. On his first few days of med school, his new friends were Adventists and one of which was a Theology graduate. He was intrigued first of what Seventh-day Adventist was all about, he then started researching about this group of people in his own time in his private moments. His search grew deeper and he read more on the group’s fundamental beliefs and doctrines, he read Revelation and correlate it with their teachings. He then asked a local pastor to do bible study with him. All of that happened before we met.

We started as friends and later on became lovers, I never imposed to him to be baptized. Never did I compel him to go to church with me, but he did every single Saturday he was free. For years, I feel like he was already an Adventist even before we met. But he was never baptized. Once he told me, he will accept Jesus as personal savior someday, I just don’t know when.

The day came he has to leave the Philippines for a very long time, he wasn’t still baptized. I felt a little bit sad, because I really don’t know when he will be back again. He told me he was attending church services in the US, but still he was not telling me if he had already made the decision or not.

1 year and a half passed, I still hold on to what he said before, “He will, someday”. I just don’t know when. He came back 2 weeks ago, and told me He was ready to accept the Lord as his personal savior through water immersion. I felt blank because I know he eventually will and this is now the time.

That special Sabbath came, I felt nothing, just an ordinary Sabbath day. I accompanied him at the back.. I stand on the side of the baptistery not seen by anyone, but I can see him and the Pastor. After he was immersed, I thought I’ll gonna cry, but I didn’t.. Maybe I am not that emotional, I told myself. After that I helped him fixed himself, handed him his towel and all his things.

But when he was finally presented to the congregation, I come to him just to congratulate him but before I do that, all of these things that happened sank in through my mind I didn’t shake his hand for congratulations, instead, I hugged him. I hugged him tight thanking the Lord and the Holy Spirit for answering my prayer. I can’t help but cry, my tears just kept on falling. I knew all along this is coming, I just don’t know when..but still, I felt so deeply touched. This could have been one of the happiest Sabbath I had. I couldn’t thank the Lord enough! Praise His Holy Name!