Appreciating the Gift of Life

Appreciating the Gift of Life

To be able to understand the meaning of this one life we have, we first need to know the purpose for which we were born into the world. Understanding the purpose of life became the starting point of a brother named Dian’s journey in appreciating the gift of life.

This man, born in Pangkalpinang in 1993, went through dark times before being born again on June 5, 2016. At that time, Dian did not have a strong fighting spirit to get out of the problems in his life, even though he himself already felt weary.

Dian’s hopelessness began in his teenage years, when he became involved in casual sex, used drugs, and became addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. This unhealthy circle and the accumulation of addictive substances produced paranoid effects within him. Dian was constantly plagued by negative thoughts that many people meant him harm. This shaped him into a person who lacked confidence, was afraid to meet people, and was closed off. 

Deep inside, Dian cried out to get out of that destructive cycle, but all his efforts still did not bear fruit, so he became hopeless. At that point of weariness, Dian fell into depression and even attempted suicide. He did not want to do much of anything and only wanted to be alone in his room. 

Thankfully, there was a relative who cared and invited him to go to church. Dian then began attending worship services regularly, but his heart was empty because he did not understand what his purpose in life was. Without genuine conviction in the truth, and without someone he could trust and who could guide him closely, worship became merely a routine to fill time. As a result, Dian did not recover from depression. He returned to his old life, living day after day in futility and loneliness, only spending time at home, and unwilling to socialize. 

On one occasion, Dian got acquainted with a sister through a chatting, where he felt more comfortable communicating. There, he was able to open up and was willing to share the situation of his life. Knowing this, this sister told him about her personal experience with God and directed Dian to seek God. Long story short, she then introduced Dian to the GKDI Bangka.

After joining the community and having hope of being helped out of his condition, Dian accepted the offer to study the Bible. He realized that when he had gone to church before, he was only following along, without truly wanting to examine God’s word and His truth.

Dian’s greatest challenge was learning to be open and acknowledge his sins because he did not easily trust other people. However, this verse helped him repent and be healed: Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person, when prayed with faith, is very powerful. – James 5:16

After opening up and confessing his sins, Dian felt relieved and was sure that he could continue to be helped in living out his repentance. In the process, Dian began new habits he had never practiced before, such as praying every day, reading the Bible, fasting, and caring about others. He also began telling his friends how he came to have the new life he now has.

Dian is convinced that the struggle to live rightly, besides beginning with oneself and an attitude of dependence on God, also needs to be supported by a community that holds the same principles. A community like this has helped and will continue to help him grow and attain likeness to Christ’s character. 

After being baptized, Dian became involved in the Song Ministry, and to this day he is still entrusted as one of the worship leaders. Two years into being a disciple of Jesus, Dian was blessed with a wife, namely the sister who had once introduced him to God. And in December 2019, this couple welcomed the birth of their first child. 

In his work, challenges certainly still remain, especially in Dian’s profession as a marketing credit worker. There are many temptations to accept invitations from prospective customers to manipulate data so that credit applications can be approved. However, Dian knows that he must continue guarding his heart so that it remains pure and uncompromising.

Dian’s hope going forward is to keep growing in good and effective communication skills. He wants his life to be used by God to win many souls. May this spirit always sustain Dian to have a life that glorifies God. Amen!

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Churches GKDI currently exists in 35 cities. We hold Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or wish to get involved in them, contact us at contact Church GKDI Official:

WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

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