Enlightenment

Wanting Everyone to Finish the Race

I went to volunteer at the National Sports Festival in Chungju. My role was to stand at the halfway point of the half marathon course and encourage athletes and prevent their deviating from the course. The marathon started and I waited for the athletes to come in. Not long after, a bunch of athletes passed in front of me. I cheered on them, applauding them. I thought that there were no more athletes left behind. But it turned out that they were athletes of the first group. The athletes passing me by were all exhausted and distressed, gasping for breath. Some of them hobbled, and some wobbled as if they were going to faint. Most of the athletes were students,…

Choi Hyeon-ah from Chungju, Korea

From a Spiritually Premature Baby to a Perfect Child of God

I worked as a midwife before. Midwives are specialists in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, and infant care. My mom had a big influence on my decision to be a midwife. When I saw how hard she had to work to raise her four children, I always wondered, ‘Why does she have to live for her family with no time for herself? Will I be able to become like her?’ I began to think deeply about the role of a mother, and it made me decide to become a midwife. The questions that I had whenever I looked at my mom were all solved after I received the truth in my school days. The love and sacrifice of mothers reminded me…

Matsumoto Miwa from Osaka, Japan

If It Is the Will of Father

In Zion, I was given an unexpected duty. At first, I gave thanks to God for using me even though I was lacking in many ways. However, as time went on, it was felt beyond my capacity. ‘It was too much for me.’ ‘If another sister had been given that duty, she would have done it better.’ Around the time when I got frustrated and enervated, I happened to read a verse from the Bible that gave me courage and strength. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Mt 10:29–30 It…

Yu Eui-jeong from Pohang, Korea

A Good Example

A Mongolian lady accepted the truth. The sister, who is poor at Korean language, learns the culture of Zion such as how to greet Zion members and how to worship, by carefully watching us. So when I’m aware that she is next to me, my words and actions become godly. As I’m in a situation where I have to be an example to a Zion member, Jesus’ teaching comes to mind. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Jn 13:15 Every day, during the three years of ministry, Jesus showed the examples that Christians should do. Also in this age, Heavenly Father sowed the seeds of the gospel for thirty-seven years…

Lee Ji-won from Gimhae, Korea

The Love of God Who Has Swept Away Our Offenses and Sins

As I grew older, I gradually got away from the church I had been attending since I was young. But when I felt that all was futile, I sought God again. Everything seemed very new to me as I began to live the life of faith again. One day, while reading the Bible, I found why I was able to come back to God. “Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isa 44:21–22 I left God and…

Park Su-yeon from Zagreb, Croatia

A Surprise Gift

At my workplace, I work for kids, so I’m interested in children. One day, I saw a child who always loosened her hair. I wanted her to look beautiful, so I tied her hair back. After the class was over, her mother came and repeatedly thanked me. I thought it was not a big deal because I used to tie children’s hair back, but seeing her mother take great delight in my help, I felt as if I received a surprise gift. I was reminded of a Bible verse I read before. “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” Mk…

Sim Hyeon-ji from Guri, Korea

Aroma of Christ

There are moments that are remembered by scents. Occasionally, my mom bought flowerpots for gardenias; when I put them by the window, the scent from the flowers spread out along the soft wind. To this day, when I smell gardenias, I’m reminded of old memories against the sunset background. In my middle school years, when I opened the door of the broadcasting room for the final interview of joining the broadcasting club, I smelled freesias which eased the tension. The scent of freesias evokes the old memories I had with the broadcasting club. In spring season, acacias bloomed around my university, turning the air into sweet scents like those of perfumes. Every spring, I’m vividly reminded of the memories I…

Lee So-yeong from Seongnam, Korea

Faith Like Abraham’s

Abraham obeyed God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac, who was born to him when he was one hundred years old, as a burnt offering. Since Abraham passed this test, he earned the title “forefather of faith.” God promised to make Abraham’s descendants numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore through Isaac. To me, the command to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering seemed too difficult to obey. Wondering what kind of mindset Abraham had, I came across a verse that helped me fathom the depth of his faith. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and…

Hong Jeong-eun from Seongnam, Korea

Be the One Who Serves

After I received God and started my life of faith, I noticed a few things in Zion that couldn’t be seen in any other places. First of all, it was hard to find out who was older and who had attended church longer. The reason was that I didn’t see anyone who exerted authority over others. Second, they all participated in the Bible study, cleaning, and volunteer services very actively though nobody asked them to. These were the things that I couldn’t understand easily, because I was used to the strict order of rank in the social life. In my experience, it is usually hard to control a group, so it requires a command system. If two people are in…

Park Seong-min from Seoul, Korea

Like Elijah’s Prayer

After I received the truth, my values and standards in life changed. Having the salvation of my soul as the goal of my faith, I no longer busied myself satisfying worldly desires; instead, I made every effort to live a righteous life as a child of God. The people around me were frustrated when they saw me living a joyful life with hope for heaven, because they couldn’t understand me. Whenever I met some people who slandered the truth blindly, I felt lonely and heartbroken. But whenever that happened, I remembered these Bible verses. The prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel…

Lee Ji-won from Gimhae, Korea

God Sympathizes with Us

‘Why did God live the same way people lived?’ This is what I had been wondering about for a long time since I began to believe in God. Our sins can be forgiven only through the precious blood of Christ, and for that reason, God must have come to the earth in the flesh. However, He could’ve suffered the pain of crucifixion only for a short moment. Why did He endure all that pain and suffering for such a long time? I couldn’t understand it easily. One day, however, I happened to read one verse in the Bible. I felt as if I got punched in the head. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to…

Yun Eun-ju from Goyang, Korea

The Law of God

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Ps 19:7–8 There was a tough time when I studied law, dry and dull. I had so many thick books to read, and slightly different theories gave me a headache. The more pages I turned, the more frustrated I became. One day, I saw the above verses from the lyrics of a New Song. It was a liberating experience. Reading the verses directly from the book of Psalms moved me even more deeply. ‘That’s right.…

Lee Su-jin from Hwaseong, Korea

Those Who Hope in God Will Renew Their Strength

I was not motivated to do anything, just like a plant that had lost its vigor and faded away. My self-respect also dropped to the bottom level. I knew that I had to overcome myself, but it was not easy to do so. What was worse, there was a whisper of darkness in my mind; “Lay all down now.” It was tempting, but I couldn’t give up because I had a heavenly home to return to. I urgently needed spiritual strength. Then I happened to read some verses that touched my soul. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who…

Kang Sun-bong from Jinju, Korea

I Have Prayed for You

When I was a college student, I had many gospel activities. One of the most memorable experiences was having a prayer gathering with some Zion members in a lecture room. We used to meet at 8 a.m. before lectures began. As I was living far from my campus, I had to take a subway train at 6 a.m. to join the prayer gathering. Moreover, I often stayed up until daybreak to write reports and to study for exams. Although my body was tired, my heart was full of joy. Every time we gathered, we read the Bible. The following verses still remain in my mind. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for…

Kim Min-ji from Virar East, Virar, MH, India

Until the Morning Star Rises in Your Hearts

It was when I was in the first year of high school. The math teacher handed out papers with an interesting pattern and told us how to look at it. When I did as the teacher directed, after a good while, I could see a three-dimensional shape built on the flat picture. Excited, I took it home and showed it to my mom. My mom, who succeeded at the end of a longer challenge, was amazed, seeing the picture again and again. The picture was a Magic Eye. A few years later, I received the truth through my older sister. Then my mom came to mind first. Mom was always living a hard life, raising her eight children along with…

Lim Ji-yeon from Seongnam, Korea

Tied with the Bond of Peace

I am rather hot-tempered. I’ve become somewhat patient after becoming a child of God, but I haven’t completely changed yet. One day, my impetuosity hurt a member’s feeling. Regretting it, I was reading the Bible to look for a solution. Then these verses caught my attention. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2–3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”—these words resounded in my heart. When things didn’t go my way, when somebody misunderstood my words or action, and when somebody thought the very opposite from what I thought,…

D.Tuvshinjargal from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Repentance

“Please forgive me for my lack of love for my brothers and sisters.” “Please forgive me for my disobedience to Your words.” There were many times when I could ask God for forgiveness—on the Sabbath day and Third day every week, and the Day of Atonement when we confess all of our sins committed throughout the year. However, I just repeated vague prayers without sincerity. I knew my wrongs, but I just thought God would forgive me and prayed for my wishes rather than for contrition. I really never knew how to repent. Then this one verse changed me: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,…

Jang Min-gyeong from Seongnam, Korea

God Does Not Break a Bruised Reed

I met God when I was going through many things. What would have happened to my soul if God had not given me a hand; I don’t even want to think about it. I was grateful that I could smile again after meeting God. However, the human heart is unpredictable. I soon started running out of the new strength I’d gained through the blessings of Heavenly Father and Mother as I was tossed about by temptations and storms of life. It was God’s word of love that saved my dying soul. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.” Mt 12:20 “Ah! I was a bruised…

Kim Tae-hui from Cheongju, Korea

No Longer Live for Themselves

I had many changes in my life after accepting the truth and realizing the existence of the heavenly family and the Heavenly Parents who give life to my soul. The blessing of eternal life that I’ve received through the Passover skimmed fear off my mind, and the precious teachings of the Bible revived my soul day after day. Now, after more than a decade, I come to realize that the blessings I’ve received in the truth were not free of charge. “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Co 5:15 When my younger brothers and sisters were born in a…

Yun Eun-ju from Goyang, Korea

I Will Be Joyful in God

I once struggled financially as my company went bankrupt. I tried many things, but I couldn’t find the answer. I felt like walking a long, dark tunnel alone. Thinking that I needed to pull myself together in times like this, I focused on listening to sermons, reading the Truth Books, the Bible more diligently. Among the verses I read, there was one verse that comforted me greatly. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God…

Park Min-gun from San Miguel, Argentina