Spiritual Journey: The Main Events of My Life

By

Albert Gomez
June, 2001

ABSTRACT

In my spiritual journey I experienced nine outstanding events, through fifty years that I can remember, which brought me to where I am today. The stories related with my life are real, as well as the names mentioned. Most of the situations that caused a shift in my journey were difficult and threatening. Finally, the results of my earnest search for truth after many trials, helped me to find consolation in the Lord. However, the struggle in my journey is still a challenge, which produces pain and disillusionment frequently.

CRYING OUT FOR HELP

I still remember pretty clearly those terrible nightmares that I had when I was four years old. Every single night the same type of dream: huge iron wheels slowly moving in my direction. This was frightening for me that in the middle of the night only my mother was able to comfort me. She spent many nights convincing me that everything was just fine, that there was nothing there to hurt me. However, for me those vivid image where real. Finally, my mother probably following somebody’s advice decided to end this nightly disruption, by not assisting me anymore. That was for me the most tragic moment in my life. Especially the night that I cried for help and nobody came to help me. I was so desperate, and in such situation, that almost fifty years later I can remember it vividly. Then, came to my mind the images related with God that I familiarly observed in the Catholic Church. These images in which I could not trust, instead of those “helpers” I asked the God of the Universe to help me. Immediately, He miraculously, totally delivered me from those nightmares.

Today, when I am asked to testify how and when I met the Lord, I cannot forget that event that took place in my infancy. Yes, the God of the Universe saved me at that time, He succored me. I was never again the same child. Something was different in me. In elementary school, I wrote poetry describing myself as being the best accompanied lonely boy. That teacher was not able to understand my thought, and judged my work as having a grammatically wrong expression.

THE BIBLE THAT I TOOK

We were very close friends, all males ranging from fourteen to seventeen years old. We spent hours dreaming and thinking together, loving to have an answer for everything. Usually, we met at Roly’s home where freedom was great, and I clearly remember that Friday debate on the real meaning of the word normal that kept us busy ‘till dawn. His parents were very wealthy and never interfered with our gathering in this huge house. After the meeting broke up and we went downstairs, I saw an attractive library-room, I dared to walk in and look around. Then, I discovered in one of the shelves a worn out book, which had some missing pages, it was a Bible. Well, I thought that I could have that neglected book and so I just took it that night. Therefore, I just took it with me that night.

The well-known Hymn comes to memory, “Years I spent in vanity and pride caring not my Lord was crucified.” Certainly, I took that Bible without saying anything or even asking permission for it. I just wanted to find out once and for all about Jesus. I had to have my own opinion on Him. I had never read a Bible before. In doing this research for who Jesus really is, many Scriptures from that reading have stayed with me to this day.

CHANGE IN DIRECTION

At seventeen years old, I felt in love with Araceli, a Catholic girl. She regularly attended the church services and studied at the local Catholic School. We never, in those six years dating each other, were able to settle our different views on life. She had called me “the philosopher” and I had asked her “why was she so faithful in attending church every Sunday when that was absolutely not changing anything about her character?”

It is very difficult to give up on someone you love. I fought hard to change her self-centered character, but it didn’t work. My ignorance of God’s way was remarkable.

Today, thirty-two years later, I remember her in prayer. I didn’t know the gospel message at that time to help her. However, not too long ago my mother and brother Alex visited her house and she received the Good News of the gospel. Hopefully, some day she will surrender to our Lord. Right now she feels tightly identified as a Catholic.

THE WONDERFUL JOB I LEFT

A brand new world of hope was opened for me in 1969. I entered in the technical department of Channel 13, TV broadcaster in Buenos Aires. Every day of work was fun. I operated all sound devices in the studio. The forty-eight hour of work schedule, was varied, it was never boring. The eight years I served this company went fast. I had some promotions, but now my ambition was to operate a studio camera. I was thoroughly prepared for the test, but it never was taken. The chief of operations department just decided to place an employee whom he considered the appropriate person for the job. When I asked him why he did that, he answered me, “the most skillful should take the position.” Uncontrollable tears started coming down my cheeks, it was embarrassing.

The lesson I learnt was very hard. It was time for changing the course of my life. I know today that the Lord was behind all this. Suddenly, He opened a new wonderful door: USA.

LIFE IN AMERICA

It was 1977, my wife and I were excited after two years of married life to experience ourselves living in a foreign land. We left home and family for this adventure. We came to the land of progress, and hope was available for my immigrant’s ambition. In few weeks I owned my taxicab and I was ready for action. However, six months later I realized that it was not meant for me… Later on, I tried in the auto-mechanic business, which I enjoyed. A year later, I rushed into a partnership looking forward to own an auto-repair business. I was twenty-nine years old and successful in business, but the partnership failed.

Another painful experience in my unrecognized rebellion, but the Lord was still working on me. When the situation with José, my partner became impossible to continue, I did challenge myself at the confrontation with the parable of the rich man (Matt. 19:16-22). Was I able to give it all up for righteousness sake? Well, after renouncing to all that I had, I was miserable. It was done in the flesh. That was a burden too heavy for me to carry.

PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH MY SAVIOR

Ziggy, a former customer, found a job for me in a packaging machines assembly line in Little Ferry, NJ. Thanks to this man that highly recommended me, I started with an excellent salary, but my attitude was not right. One day I received an invitation to Florida. This friend sent me two airplane tickets to visit him. My wife and I went; I took a couple days off work without giving previous notice. A few weeks after our return they notified me that I was permanently laid-off from work. I had caused that, why I did not notified them about my trip to Florida? Then, depression came heavily in an unusual way upon me. I desperately needed to find out the truth about my failure. The next three months I spent over this matter.

That depression developed into a wonderful encounter with the Lord of lords and the King of kings. The saved money my wife and I had, served to finance the three month I used looking for answers, while being secluded in our apartment searching for truth: fasting, reading the Bible, and meditating on His Word.

The Spirit of God showed me that I was the problem. Even then I was not able to approach God without a Mediator. I needed Jesus’ blood to be applied in me. All my sins were exposed before him. Jesus purchased my redemption. He justified me and declared me righteous to enter His kingdom. I Thank the Lord who brought me into His family.

TEN MARVELOUS YEARS

I had no idea that a saved person should be participant of a congregation. My understanding as a born-again at home, without guidance and discipleship took me into some type of isolation. Then, three years later I noticed that I was conforming to the world instead of being transformed. However, God placed Bobby, a fabulous Christian (today a pastor) who instructed me and led me to church, and that became the number one priority in my life.

Only six months after attending Fairview Gospel Church, My wife and I became members. The experience was extraordinary. Having fought the battle all alone, to have now the church’s support was of great gain. Those old hymns powerfully ministered to me, most of them I never heard before, caused me to shed tears of happiness and joy. They spoke loudly about my Savior. It blessed my wife and I. In addition, in the very beginning that we started hearing the spoken Word of God, it brought my wife to Christ and she decided to be baptized.

I served at Fairview Gospel Church as a deacon and trustee with my wife also as treasurer for over ten years.

POWER STRUGGLE

Thanks to our friend John Tuvell, a dear pastor who my wife and I loved, arranged with Pastor Heinsius at Fairview Gospel Church to allow us to use the church’s basement for Friday’s fellowship meetings. Which John insisted we were well equipped to do so. Pastor Heinsius agreed and it was a success. Normally after meals and fellowship we had Bible study, which lasted for eight consecutive years, until the jealousy from the other leaders came against us. The situation turned so difficult that we were forced to resign.

Nevertheless, I am thankful for the experience. Anna and I knew that we suffered for righteousness sake. In addition, we knew that the truth about all this conflict will be clarified in His time. Certainly, it happened five years later. The pastor invited us when the leaders who opposed us left the church after having a conflict against the pastor with the intention of getting him out. Now we have been asked gladly on their part, and very welcomed to return.

TIME FOR PROGRESS

I begin to realize how much I missed to do Bible studies when being absent from Fairview Gospel. One thing is to attend church services, but another thing totally different is to be involved preparing you to give the Word of God. The separation I had from the Word convict me of two things. First, to use my fading youth energy to provide my family with a (debt-free) solid economy, second, that I must be prepared educational-wise to serve in full ministry. For which I thank God with all my heart that He is faithful to me. He is guiding and helping me.

The Lord knows that I want to serve Him the rest of my life. Notwithstanding, I recognize that I am not worthy of Him. I must acknowledge the assistance I have received since I became a full time student three years ago, which shows His hand in all these activities. Moreover, my wife and friends are expecting great things from me. To be honest I do not think that I am well equipped spiritually as I was before my academic commitment.

Nevertheless, I want to thank God for giving me this particular course that exposes the reality of seminary formal education.