How did I find my Paradise?, Edison

A long time ago, on a cold morning in winter, in my grandparents' ranch somewhere in the mountains of Ecuador, I was born into this world without knowing what the future had for me. In that beautiful land where the scarce clouds slowly cross the blue sky, the wind sometimes whistled and other times resounded with its gusts through the mountains and valleys. The birds, trembling because of the cold, harmonized the numbing dawn with their beautiful trill. Everything seemed so peaceful. According to their custom, the people in the ranch began their work with joy, as the birds made their nests or as the working bees built their honeycomb. Everything was so beautiful that I thought I had been born in a paradise--an error I would come to know fifty-six years later.

As I grew up, I came to realize that my family belonged to the ``red'' party, and that they did not believe in God. Indeed, I was raised in that doctrine, which now I know is sin, even though in my family, honor, to keep one's word, honesty and truthfulness were our ``daily bread''.

I belonged to my college's socialist party. Our professors thought us to be the best in that party. When I finished college, I was admitted to the School for Police Cadets. Although I stopped meeting with the socialist party, I continued not believing in God.

After fifteen years in the Police Department, and while waiting for my promotion to captain, something came into my heart, like a command that was propelling me to leave the rottenness of sin (this, of course, I came to realize later on), and I left the Police Department. Then, I moved with all my family to the United States.

In this country, I began to live the American way. After some time, two of my children became Christians and for about ten years they prayed for my salvation. At first I laughed at them and did not listen to them. But one day the Lord Jesus knocked on the door of my heart. My ears were opened to Him, and opening wide the doors of my spirit, He entered into me in 1988. Then I became a Northern Baptist, and although I did not understand what it meant to be a Northern Baptist, I began to know Jesus Christ.

As time went on, I once again felt a leading of the Lord within my spirit to leave my job in Los Angeles and migrate to Florida. I moved into the city of Hialeah, where I began to attend a Southern Baptist church. Again, although I did not understand what it meant to be a Southern Baptist, I continued to grow in Jesus.

In 1993 I retired at the age of sixty-two. Although I was a Christian, I was not completely satisfied and thus I was looking for something to fill my emptiness. The things that I got and the answers I received did not satisfy me, until one day, in April of 1999, after we have been ten years in the city of Hialeah, my wife and I went to Huntington Beach, California, to visit our daughter and our granddaughter who were already meeting with the local church in that city.

Our granddaughter invited us to go with her to the church meeting on Sunday. I asked her if those in her group were followers of Christ. Indeed, she said, they are real followers of Him. So my granddaughter, my wife and I went to the meeting of the church in Huntington Beach that Sunday.

Hallelujah! In that meeting I truly received a new call from my Lord Jesus. Hence, after we went back to Florida, we sold everything and moved to Huntington Beach in October of the same year so that we might continue in fellowship with the local church in that city.

From that time on, I began to learn what it really means to be a Christian. I learned how to have a more intimate and closer relationship with the Lord. I also began to know and enjoy the fellowship with my fellow believers in Christ. In the local church, I received much help from the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. Through their ministry I came to realize that all the believers in Christ constitute the Body of Christ, the Head being the Lord Jesus Himself.

I also learned that God has an eternal purpose, and that in order to accomplish it He had made a plan through which He imparts Himself into us as life and everything. The Father is in the Son (John 14:10), the Son is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17), and the Spirit today is in us as life. By the Spirit of God dwelling in my human spirit I came to realize that the Bible is not merely a book of teachings but a book of life. Therefore, I also learned how to enjoy Christ in His Word by eating Him (John 6:35-37), and by calling on His name ``Oh, Lord Jesus!'' (Rom. 10:13). I call on Him to contact Him, to love Him, to ask for His help when I am praying, and to ask Him to lead me in His way when I pray-read the Word of God.

So I learned that the paradise I knew before in Ecuador, was actually a part of the kingdom of darkness. But today, I have found the true paradise. This true paradise is actually the Lord Jesus Himself! Hallelujah! Jesus Christ is my paradise! I bless and praise the Lord Jesus for leading me to this right and truthful way that is the way of His recovery.

Thank you Lord because I came to the place I was looking for. I have finally found You! I know that I am truly a son of God (Rom. 8:14). Lord Jesus, I love You!