1 00:00:00,257 --> 00:00:01,418 Good morning. 2 00:00:01,418 --> 00:00:03,934 My name is Diego Medina. 3 00:00:03,934 --> 00:00:07,468 I grew up in Puerto Rico. 4 00:00:07,468 --> 00:00:11,187 And growing up, I have no recollection of my dad 5 00:00:11,187 --> 00:00:15,792 ever speaking about spiritual things 6 00:00:15,792 --> 00:00:17,715 or going to church. 7 00:00:17,715 --> 00:00:21,277 And growing up, I think we went to church - 8 00:00:21,277 --> 00:00:25,360 Catholic church - 4 or 5 times a year. 9 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,847 I remember having to go 10 00:00:28,847 --> 00:00:30,937 to do my first communion. 11 00:00:30,937 --> 00:00:36,188 So I had to go take the classes. 12 00:00:36,188 --> 00:00:39,855 So my recollection growing up 13 00:00:39,855 --> 00:00:41,832 of a spiritual life 14 00:00:41,832 --> 00:00:44,697 was going to church 15 00:00:44,697 --> 00:00:48,321 when it was the major holidays. 16 00:00:48,321 --> 00:00:51,238 And as I prepared for my first communion, 17 00:00:51,238 --> 00:00:54,438 learning that to be right with God, 18 00:00:54,438 --> 00:00:56,978 you'd go and confess your sins, 19 00:00:56,978 --> 00:01:00,532 do a couple "Hail Mary's" and "Holy Fathers" 20 00:01:00,532 --> 00:01:02,696 and you're forgiven. 21 00:01:02,696 --> 00:01:04,308 And it's a cycle. 22 00:01:04,308 --> 00:01:08,425 You go sin again and go back and confess. 23 00:01:08,425 --> 00:01:12,860 And growing up, I think I was about 14 years old 24 00:01:12,860 --> 00:01:17,027 when I realized that if that was the case, 25 00:01:17,027 --> 00:01:20,224 every time I prayed the Lord's Prayer, 26 00:01:20,224 --> 00:01:23,108 I was condemning myself even more 27 00:01:23,108 --> 00:01:24,816 because at the end it says, 28 00:01:24,816 --> 00:01:27,100 "Father, forgive my trespasses, 29 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:30,817 just as I forgive those who trespass against me." 30 00:01:30,817 --> 00:01:34,185 So I felt that the smart thing to do at the time 31 00:01:34,185 --> 00:01:37,932 was to change the Lord's Prayer. 32 00:01:37,932 --> 00:01:40,266 And I changed my prayer as 33 00:01:40,266 --> 00:01:43,067 "Lord, forgive my sins 34 00:01:43,067 --> 00:01:45,985 and teach me to forgive others." 35 00:01:45,985 --> 00:01:47,597 And I thought at the time 36 00:01:47,597 --> 00:01:54,880 that put me in a better place. 37 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:59,482 Then something happened growing up 38 00:01:59,482 --> 00:02:02,748 with my priest - the pastor 39 00:02:02,748 --> 00:02:07,197 of the Catholic church I was going to. 40 00:02:07,197 --> 00:02:10,861 He made a pass and we had a relationship 41 00:02:10,861 --> 00:02:15,379 that wasn't God-honoring. 42 00:02:15,379 --> 00:02:17,099 And at the time, I realized, 43 00:02:17,099 --> 00:02:20,521 why am I going to a man 44 00:02:20,521 --> 00:02:26,727 that is as sinful and as fallen as me 45 00:02:26,727 --> 00:02:28,588 to be right with God? 46 00:02:28,588 --> 00:02:31,369 So, with not knowing anything really 47 00:02:31,369 --> 00:02:34,899 about Christ and what He did for me, 48 00:02:34,899 --> 00:02:39,886 I started confessing myself in private 49 00:02:39,886 --> 00:02:43,301 trying to seek peace with God. 50 00:02:43,301 --> 00:02:45,212 Then I grew up, joined the Air Force, 51 00:02:45,212 --> 00:02:47,496 and completely forgot about church, 52 00:02:47,496 --> 00:02:49,551 about God. 53 00:02:49,551 --> 00:02:52,635 During that time of those four years 54 00:02:52,635 --> 00:02:56,089 in the Air Force, 55 00:02:56,089 --> 00:03:04,134 I used to be very moral in appearance. 56 00:03:04,134 --> 00:03:07,920 I remember being proud 57 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,689 of my mom being proud of me. 58 00:03:11,689 --> 00:03:14,700 I don't know if that makes sense. 59 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:17,441 So being taken from that environment 60 00:03:17,441 --> 00:03:19,609 where my mom was an overseer 61 00:03:19,609 --> 00:03:20,901 and my family 62 00:03:20,901 --> 00:03:24,083 and trying to live up to their standards 63 00:03:24,083 --> 00:03:26,372 and their expectations - 64 00:03:26,372 --> 00:03:27,847 taken away from that 65 00:03:27,847 --> 00:03:31,351 and going to Okinawa 66 00:03:31,351 --> 00:03:32,467 where nobody knew me 67 00:03:32,467 --> 00:03:35,402 and nobody had any expectations, 68 00:03:35,402 --> 00:03:38,629 the Lord used those four years 69 00:03:38,629 --> 00:03:41,338 to really show me the sin that was in me. 70 00:03:41,338 --> 00:03:44,987 I couldn't recognize the man that I became 71 00:03:44,987 --> 00:03:47,788 during that time. 72 00:03:47,788 --> 00:03:50,322 All the sexual immorality 73 00:03:50,322 --> 00:03:54,323 and all the things that I did 74 00:03:54,323 --> 00:03:56,134 that were so sinful. 75 00:03:56,134 --> 00:03:58,273 And if my mom or my family would have known 76 00:03:58,273 --> 00:03:59,686 I would have been so ashamed. 77 00:03:59,686 --> 00:04:01,308 But at the same time, I was glad 78 00:04:01,308 --> 00:04:04,094 that they would never find out. 79 00:04:04,094 --> 00:04:06,644 So I have no problem. 80 00:04:06,644 --> 00:04:09,144 And through all that, I have no concern 81 00:04:09,144 --> 00:04:11,931 about what God was thinking of me 82 00:04:11,931 --> 00:04:19,304 and how I was increasing God's wrath 83 00:04:19,304 --> 00:04:23,052 in my own life by my choices. 84 00:04:23,052 --> 00:04:26,031 I came back to the states, 85 00:04:26,031 --> 00:04:27,492 lost my job. 86 00:04:27,492 --> 00:04:29,209 After I got out of the Air Force, 87 00:04:29,209 --> 00:04:30,691 I got a civilian job. 88 00:04:30,691 --> 00:04:32,440 Lost my job. 89 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,469 By God's providence, came to San Antonio 90 00:04:35,469 --> 00:04:37,310 for a job offer. 91 00:04:37,310 --> 00:04:41,237 At the time, I only had one family member living here. 92 00:04:41,237 --> 00:04:43,291 She was a professing Christian. 93 00:04:43,291 --> 00:04:45,679 And I had no friends in San Antonio, 94 00:04:45,679 --> 00:04:48,438 so I started going over to her house. 95 00:04:48,438 --> 00:04:49,932 And it was good food. 96 00:04:49,932 --> 00:04:52,994 As a single man, I loved that. 97 00:04:52,994 --> 00:04:54,295 She had Bible studies, 98 00:04:54,295 --> 00:04:56,817 so I started going to the Bible studies. 99 00:04:56,817 --> 00:05:01,297 And I continued my life of partying 100 00:05:01,297 --> 00:05:07,611 and sexual immorality, 101 00:05:07,611 --> 00:05:09,748 doing business that was crooked, 102 00:05:09,748 --> 00:05:11,149 and just trying to make money 103 00:05:11,149 --> 00:05:15,464 and pursue financial freedom. 104 00:05:15,464 --> 00:05:19,743 And as I start going to the Bible studies, 105 00:05:19,743 --> 00:05:21,879 I remember I had a Bible, 106 00:05:21,879 --> 00:05:24,535 so I started reading my Bible. 107 00:05:24,535 --> 00:05:28,136 And I started reading from Genesis 108 00:05:28,136 --> 00:05:32,019 and came across the commandments. 109 00:05:32,019 --> 00:05:36,781 Something happened as I started reading God's laws 110 00:05:36,781 --> 00:05:42,248 and started reading about His 10 Commandments, 111 00:05:42,248 --> 00:05:43,557 I started seeing in my life 112 00:05:43,557 --> 00:05:48,296 how I was not living up to them. 113 00:05:48,296 --> 00:05:51,669 I started changing myself. 114 00:05:51,669 --> 00:05:54,067 I wanted to be good. 115 00:05:54,067 --> 00:05:58,528 I started changing the way I behaved, 116 00:05:58,528 --> 00:06:02,629 my night life - put it to the side. 117 00:06:02,629 --> 00:06:06,503 And I tried to reform myself. 118 00:06:06,503 --> 00:06:10,040 And I felt good for about a month - 119 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,531 maybe two months, 120 00:06:12,531 --> 00:06:18,595 and I saw how impotent I was 121 00:06:18,595 --> 00:06:20,444 of keeping God's laws 122 00:06:20,444 --> 00:06:24,920 and how my conscience would tell me 123 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,457 how guilty I was before God 124 00:06:27,457 --> 00:06:29,844 and how futile my efforts 125 00:06:29,844 --> 00:06:32,690 of reforming myself were. 126 00:06:32,690 --> 00:06:36,351 I remember coming one night 127 00:06:36,351 --> 00:06:39,183 from the clubs. 128 00:06:39,183 --> 00:06:41,030 It was 2 o'clock in the morning. 129 00:06:41,030 --> 00:06:44,285 I walk into an empty house. 130 00:06:44,285 --> 00:06:47,829 I felt great as I was with my friends 131 00:06:47,829 --> 00:06:51,173 dancing and partying and everything. 132 00:06:51,173 --> 00:06:52,940 The moment I walked into my house 133 00:06:52,940 --> 00:06:56,229 I was confronted with the fact 134 00:06:56,229 --> 00:07:01,329 that I'm not right before God. 135 00:07:01,329 --> 00:07:04,623 And I'd been trying to be right before God 136 00:07:04,623 --> 00:07:08,092 for so many months in my own strength, 137 00:07:08,092 --> 00:07:11,000 and knowing that the more I tried, 138 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,820 the more condemned I was before Him; 139 00:07:15,820 --> 00:07:18,957 the more sinful 140 00:07:18,957 --> 00:07:20,935 and the more deserving of His wrath 141 00:07:20,935 --> 00:07:22,794 and punishment and going to hell - 142 00:07:22,794 --> 00:07:24,320 definitely, I was sure 143 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:29,041 that it was the right thing for my life. 144 00:07:29,041 --> 00:07:33,826 And I was tired. 145 00:07:33,826 --> 00:07:36,642 And I remember falling on my knees 146 00:07:36,642 --> 00:07:40,258 and crying out and telling God 147 00:07:40,258 --> 00:07:45,477 I can't do it on my own. 148 00:07:45,477 --> 00:07:55,260 And if You don't save me, I have no hope. 149 00:07:55,260 --> 00:07:57,493 And things started to make sense the next day. 150 00:07:57,493 --> 00:08:00,529 I was able to go to bed, got up, 151 00:08:00,529 --> 00:08:04,561 and I felt a relief and a hope. 152 00:08:04,561 --> 00:08:08,493 I didn't understand what it was at the time. 153 00:08:08,493 --> 00:08:10,772 I'm driving and I saw a church 154 00:08:10,772 --> 00:08:14,351 and I felt that the very next step - 155 00:08:14,351 --> 00:08:16,472 the logical step, the right thing to do 156 00:08:16,472 --> 00:08:18,262 was to go to church. 157 00:08:18,262 --> 00:08:20,138 So I go to church 158 00:08:20,138 --> 00:08:25,483 and I met my brother Richard in that church. 159 00:08:25,483 --> 00:08:28,893 And my Friday's became from going out partying 160 00:08:28,893 --> 00:08:33,144 to going to his house and studying the Scriptures. 161 00:08:33,144 --> 00:08:35,527 And it was such a beautiful time 162 00:08:35,527 --> 00:08:40,201 to read the Word of God and understand 163 00:08:40,201 --> 00:08:43,744 for the first time in my life who Christ was 164 00:08:43,744 --> 00:08:47,261 and what He accomplished for me. 165 00:08:47,261 --> 00:08:50,547 And how I didn't have to try to reform myself, 166 00:08:50,547 --> 00:08:54,403 and how I didn't have to try in my own strength 167 00:08:54,403 --> 00:08:55,695 to be right before God, 168 00:08:55,695 --> 00:09:01,773 but how I was able to trust in Christ 169 00:09:01,773 --> 00:09:05,588 and His promise of working in me 170 00:09:05,588 --> 00:09:07,084 and changing my heart 171 00:09:07,084 --> 00:09:09,231 and giving me new desires 172 00:09:09,231 --> 00:09:11,273 which I was able to see 173 00:09:11,273 --> 00:09:12,743 right from the beginning 174 00:09:12,743 --> 00:09:14,923 that He had given it. 175 00:09:14,923 --> 00:09:17,173 I was spending Friday nights 176 00:09:17,173 --> 00:09:18,965 with other single men 177 00:09:18,965 --> 00:09:20,410 studying the Word of God 178 00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:22,641 until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning 179 00:09:22,641 --> 00:09:26,178 and it was sweet. It was good. 180 00:09:26,178 --> 00:09:29,383 A week before that, a month before that 181 00:09:29,383 --> 00:09:31,553 I would have thought those guys were crazy 182 00:09:31,553 --> 00:09:34,470 so definitely the Lord was changing me. 183 00:09:34,470 --> 00:09:40,774 And it's just growing in knowing, 184 00:09:40,774 --> 00:09:45,173 in appreciating what He has done for me. 185 00:09:45,173 --> 00:09:49,383 I always share how in the beginning 186 00:09:49,383 --> 00:09:52,178 I thought that my sins were that big. 187 00:09:52,178 --> 00:09:54,997 Therefore, Christ dying on the cross 188 00:09:54,997 --> 00:09:59,178 was that big - just enough to cover my sins. 189 00:09:59,178 --> 00:10:01,741 And as a single man 190 00:10:01,741 --> 00:10:03,403 growing in my faith, 191 00:10:03,403 --> 00:10:06,597 I believed that I'd conquered my sins 192 00:10:06,597 --> 00:10:08,401 and I was righteous. 193 00:10:08,401 --> 00:10:14,475 And then the Lord gave me a wife 194 00:10:14,475 --> 00:10:16,897 which has been such a blessing, 195 00:10:16,897 --> 00:10:20,385 but the Lord has used her 196 00:10:20,385 --> 00:10:22,486 in our dynamic, in our relationship 197 00:10:22,486 --> 00:10:26,189 to show that He has so much work 198 00:10:26,189 --> 00:10:28,830 to do in my life. 199 00:10:28,830 --> 00:10:31,503 And the thing that I thought I'd conquered, 200 00:10:31,503 --> 00:10:33,347 He exposed it. 201 00:10:33,347 --> 00:10:36,333 He showed me how selfish I still was; 202 00:10:36,333 --> 00:10:39,035 how short-tempered; 203 00:10:39,035 --> 00:10:41,751 how sinful. 204 00:10:41,751 --> 00:10:44,075 And I remember looking back and saying 205 00:10:44,075 --> 00:10:45,146 wait a minute - 206 00:10:45,146 --> 00:10:48,105 so if my sins are not that big, 207 00:10:48,105 --> 00:10:49,834 but they're this big, 208 00:10:49,834 --> 00:10:51,653 I have no hope. 209 00:10:51,653 --> 00:10:54,593 But yet, being able to look at Christ 210 00:10:54,593 --> 00:10:59,616 and appreciating how His dying on the cross 211 00:10:59,616 --> 00:11:03,966 was not that big, but infinitely bigger. 212 00:11:03,966 --> 00:11:06,876 And as I'm learning my life as a Christian 213 00:11:06,876 --> 00:11:10,657 discovering things as the Lord revealed them 214 00:11:10,657 --> 00:11:13,219 that were still in my life - that sinful nature; 215 00:11:13,219 --> 00:11:18,026 those things that were not pleasing to Him 216 00:11:18,026 --> 00:11:20,512 and being able to see that that sin 217 00:11:20,512 --> 00:11:24,498 was so much greater in my life than what I thought. 218 00:11:24,498 --> 00:11:28,554 It was good to be able to see that Christ 219 00:11:28,554 --> 00:11:31,871 dying on the cross is so much bigger. 220 00:11:31,871 --> 00:11:34,415 His righteousness is able 221 00:11:34,415 --> 00:11:37,176 to cover all my sins. 222 00:11:37,176 --> 00:11:40,836 And ever since, it's been a journey 223 00:11:40,836 --> 00:11:42,547 of putting sin to death 224 00:11:42,547 --> 00:11:47,695 and discovering how many more 225 00:11:47,695 --> 00:11:50,197 I have to work and bring to the cross 226 00:11:50,197 --> 00:11:54,984 and plead with the Lord to put to death. 227 00:11:54,984 --> 00:11:59,863 But the hope and the assurance 228 00:11:59,863 --> 00:12:03,230 that He promised that He will finish 229 00:12:03,230 --> 00:12:05,438 the good work that He started in me 230 00:12:05,438 --> 00:12:10,710 and that He has already ordained 231 00:12:10,710 --> 00:12:13,056 good works for me to fulfill. 232 00:12:13,056 --> 00:12:15,035 And I can do them 233 00:12:15,035 --> 00:12:18,938 as long as I remember 234 00:12:18,938 --> 00:12:22,339 that Christ's righteousness is sufficient 235 00:12:22,339 --> 00:12:26,488 for the peace that I enjoy with Christ. 236 00:12:26,488 --> 00:12:29,457 And I don't have to worry 237 00:12:29,457 --> 00:12:32,862 as I was a young man 238 00:12:32,862 --> 00:12:34,657 having to go back and confess 239 00:12:34,657 --> 00:12:37,460 and finding hope in another man 240 00:12:37,460 --> 00:12:39,833 and my work. 241 00:12:39,833 --> 00:12:41,642 But my hope is in Christ 242 00:12:41,642 --> 00:12:44,092 and His finished work. 243 00:12:44,092 --> 00:12:47,606 And I can enjoy peace with God. 244 00:12:47,606 --> 00:12:51,735 As I continue growing in my walk, 245 00:12:51,735 --> 00:12:55,383 that's my hope and that's my testimony. 246 00:12:55,383 --> 00:12:56,555 Amen.