When Gunav was just a young boy, his father passed away. The family was left without a head of the home, and Gunav was left without a father’s guidance.
Consequences of Poor Choices
As he grew older, Gunav fell into bad company. He turned to drinking, which later led him to a drug addiction.
Though Gunav’s mother, Aaja, had believed in the truth of God’s Word and in Jesus prior to marriage, the family practiced her husband’s traditional religion. Aaja was distressed by her son’s poor decisions and tried to convince him to stop following such an unhealthy path. But Gunav ignored his mother’s concerned pleas to quit taking drugs. He did as he pleased, spiraling further downward in his destructive lifestyle.
Aaja wasn’t the only one who was concerned about him. Gunav’s friend Jiyu, saddened by Gunav’s unwise choices, looked for an opportunity to share with him the love of Jesus and a better way to live.
Boldness of a Good Friend
One day, Jiyu found that opportunity. He told his friend about a God who loved him dearly and recommended Gunav listen to teachings from the Bible on YouTube.
Though Gunav seemed to listen, he continued stumbling through life making the same bad decisions.
Many days later, however, Gunav was reminded of his friend’s words and searched for readings of God’s Word on YouTube. He was deeply touched by what he heard.
Every day, Gunav would listen to the Bible, letting the words wash over his mind and soul. As the truth sank in, and he recognized Jesus was the only one who could change his life, Gunav began to make different choices.
Power to Change
Gradually, Gunav stopped taking drugs and drinking alcohol. In their place, he welcomed the joy and peace that seeped into his heart as he heard God’s Word. He even decided to attend the local church with his mother.
There, Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Yadid spoke on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
Gunav was struck by the message’s direct application to the way he treated his own body. He was encouraged to continue trusting Jesus with his life and to make wise choices about what he allowed into his temple.
Pastor Yadid began regularly visiting Gunav and Aaja, sharing God’s Word and encouraging them in their faith. Their home gained peace long absent as mother and son found unity in Christ.
Gunav’s life went from tumultuous to peaceful, destructive to joyful. For that, he has a loving friend, a caring pastor and the powerful Word of God to thank.
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