back to index2022-01-09 Eddie Kim Baptism Testimony
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My name is Eddie Kim and this is my testimony. 00:00:10.400 |
Growing up, there were many painful moments I faced in life. 00:00:14.080 |
I grew up in a single parent home since my birth mother abandoned my older brother, me, 00:00:19.640 |
Thanks to my aunt, I grew up in the local church during my childhood. 00:00:24.920 |
Church was nothing more than an activity I did twice a week with occasional retreats 00:00:31.760 |
Whenever things grew tough in my life, I would go to the basketball court seeking refuge. 00:00:36.280 |
However, the storms grew stronger and basketball could no longer provide the comfort that I 00:00:43.360 |
On a church retreat in eighth grade, I decided to go to the cross to lay my burdens down. 00:00:48.520 |
I felt an urge and need to tell God all my worries and pains I had experienced. 00:00:56.240 |
At that very moment, I dedicated my life to Christ, or at least that's what I told myself. 00:01:02.320 |
I went back to living life as if nothing had changed, but with a false perspective that 00:01:06.880 |
God would surely bless me now that I dedicated my life to Him. 00:01:11.500 |
My relationship with God was surface level and shallow at best. 00:01:16.060 |
My childhood continued to be unstable, and at times I had no place to call home. 00:01:21.220 |
As the years passed into my adulthood, my main priority was worldly riches so I could 00:01:26.060 |
build a life and future that was much better than the childhood in hopes that my anxiety 00:01:34.460 |
When things started to look brighter, I would put God on the back burner and focus and prioritize 00:01:39.440 |
my pursuit of success as my hope was placed in achieving the next goal. 00:01:44.140 |
I was blind and conditioned to believe that there was no one I could rely on but myself. 00:01:49.360 |
In order to be happy, I thought I had to take control of my future and be successful for 00:01:55.600 |
However, tomorrow always changed, and happiness was temporary. 00:02:00.500 |
My hope was falsely placed in man and this world. 00:02:04.040 |
I realize now, no matter how hard I tried, nothing was ever in my control, and success 00:02:11.920 |
A distraction from the truth that my hope is in Christ alone, but was too prideful and 00:02:19.160 |
There were many storms from being bounced from home to home when my father was absent 00:02:25.940 |
to him passing away from brain cancer, but nothing compelled into comparison to losing 00:02:34.200 |
The one person that was a constant figure throughout my entire life and whom I love 00:02:40.780 |
At my breaking point, I was humbled before the Lord and he showed me that even in the 00:02:44.920 |
challenges he has been with me every step of the way, I could feel God's love and 00:02:52.660 |
It was a familiar feeling I had experienced many times before, but chose to ignore. 00:02:58.640 |
How could this great God continue to love an unworthy sinner like me? 00:03:02.840 |
I could no longer ignore God's calling and response. 00:03:06.060 |
I dedicated my life to Christ, but this time it was genuine. 00:03:11.580 |
To be clear, I am not saying that my life is now perfect without any pain, suffering, 00:03:18.420 |
What I am saying is that God revealed his goodness in each step of my journey. 00:03:22.320 |
I can clearly see and recognize that God's hands were in all things as nothing was in 00:03:29.060 |
Through these challenges, God graciously and mercifully sanctified me to see that the storms 00:03:33.500 |
will always come and go, but God's promise and hope are everlasting. 00:03:38.860 |
Prior to this realization, any challenges were reason to be angry with God, but now 00:03:44.860 |
they are reason to praise God for all his goodness, even through the darkness. 00:03:51.020 |
While I am still processing my emotions and deep sorrow for my brother's passing, I 00:03:55.460 |
find joy knowing there is hope in eternity through Christ. 00:03:59.260 |
I am getting baptized today to publicly profess my faith and submission of my life to Christ, 00:04:05.140 |
in obedience to his will, and dedicate myself to be anchored in him.