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A Sinner’s Cry – Adrian Rivera

My name is Adrian Sales Rivera. I was born in the Philippines where 81 percent of the population are Roman Catholics, a denomination where I spend most of my life attending Sunday masses on a regular basis. I grew up in thinking that it is my obligation to spend an hour each week to attend church masses and counting good deeds as my passes to heaven. But day by day I was living in sin. You won’t even imagine how good I was in disobeying God’s law given unto Moses and stated in Exodus chapter 20;

*False god

*Idolatry

*Misused thy Fathers name

*disrespect the Holiness of the Sabbath day

*dishonor thy father and mother

*Adultery

*Stealing

*False Accusation against another person

*Coveting

I almost got all ten if I didn’t manage to stop thinking of taking or losing my life out of depression caused by broken relationships, anger and carelessness. For if all these were just part of an exam, then maybe I must have passed them with flying colors.

All the while living in sin, in His sovereign grace; God never got tired to reach out for me. (Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV) September 12, 2006: While I was doing a temporary electrical connection at our newly constructed house, I suddenly heard a loud BUZZING sound and immediately I noticed that I was in a state of being electrocuted. Unable to release myself from the wiring that holds me, I could not move, I could not open my mouth to yell for help, and the last 4 seconds I knew were the longest 4 seconds in my life that I could remember. I turned to God and bargained for my life and ask

“Lord, spare my life and let me live for I’m still young, my parents still need me, and I would like to take care of them as they grow old.”

Sadly, I cannot do anything for myself, at that moment I am literally DEAD. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV) It was “Game Over” for me, after 4 seconds I passed out and fell 3 meters from ceiling to the floor creating a loud noise, unconscious and bleeding they rushed me to the hospital where I woke up and stayed for a week. Gracefully I was pardoned by the mercy of God, but I gave less credit to Him, and I lived as if nothing has happened joking and boasting on my friends that I am stronger than the 230 volt current that shocked me.

I came to Dubai 2007.

August 2010: Became the turning point of my being where in the midst of my sinful life and disappointments I had nowhere else to run to but God. Someone gave me my first Bible, An application Bible on my phone where I started reading verse by verse. Like a child learning how to walk I responded to an invitation to hear a preaching, later joined a small group in order for me to fully understand the message of the scripture and feed the hunger to grow in knowledge of the good news of Christ’s purpose on earth, what He lived and died for; was to make known to man the freeness of salvation by grace through faith in Christ by His death and resurrection redeemed us from sins so we can live by faith in Him all for the Father’s glory.

(Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV) And you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

That was me, DEAD nearly 7 years ago defines my life right there; separated from God and deserving of hell. Unable to do anything to save myself.

But I rejoice in Christ my savior who enables me to turn away from sin, and put my hope in Him alone.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

This is me today, all by the grace of God who was and is patiently at work in me the whole 31 years of my life. Things have change since then, I have now a better view of life in light, and choice to resist darkness.

Join me as I grow in faith and pray for me as I publicly declare that the old me exist no longer, a new me come alive by the renewal of my spirit.

I am Adrian, a sinner saved by grace.

February 8, 2013-Dubai

7 Comments

  1. Matthew Collins 2/11/2013
  2. Mary 2/14/2013
  3. pietergabriel 2/15/2013
  4. Mary 2/16/2013
  5. pietergabriel 2/16/2013
  6. Emory 2/16/2013
  7. adrian_boyoyong 6/11/2013

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