By J. González

“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue. And do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me to judgment with yourself? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one! Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with you; you have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass” (Job 14:1-5).

     We do not bring anything into the world when we are born, but, after a few years, are given the use of ‘reason’ and with it a responsibility for our eternal destiny. In everyone’s personal history many different roads open up, yet only one is the right road - Jesus said: “I am the way!”

     Here is part of my history.

   I was born in a tiny village in Spain’s northern province of Valladolid and given the name of Jesús – a very common name in this country. It was year 1931. In our part of the province most people worked in agriculture and so did my family. It was hard work, but at that stage it was even harder because of the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. Many people suffered. I worked with my father until I was 25.

     When I was six, the eldest of four, we lost our mother. My father decided to remarry and through the years six more brothers and sisters arrived. Since my step-mother already had two children of her own, we came to be a family of fourteen altogether. Being so many didn’t make things easier.

     I loved car-mechanics and decided I’d get a driver’s license. Once I was the proud possessor of this document, my ‘profession’ changed to that of a car driver. Then news came through that in Madrid bus drivers were needed for the public transport system. So I applied and was accepted. It meant that I had to move, starting work in the nation’s capital. That was my job for 35 years, right up to my retirement.

     It was in the sixties when, for two months, I had a workmate, who went by the name of Agapito. He was an Evangelical Christian, whose friendship I appreciated very much. However, Agapito decided to take his family and emigrate to Australia. But, before departing, he asked for my address as he wanted to stay in touch. Moreover, he presented me with a Bible - rather an ancient version, because it still had the Roman numbers. I was pleased to have it though.

     When the Australian sugarcane-harvest season came round, Agapito was, for a time, living rough, having his sleeping quarters in barracks. Before having a chance to put pen to paper, he managed to lose my address. This meant that for a period of two years there was no news from him at all. Yet, looking back, it is clear that the God who had started something was not going to leave things at that! His ways may be mysterious – they are also marvelous.

     Finally Agapito discovered the lost address! But, instead of writing directly to me, he wrote to a friend of his, an Irish NTMU missionary in Madrid, called Albert Robinson. Telling him about me and giving him my home address, he suggested that he visit me. Albert lost no time in making the effort, and, when not finding me in, told my wife he’d be back the following day to bring me news of Agapito.

     So with great curiosity and interest I waited for Albert to arrive. But if I had expected to hear lots of news of my friend Agapito, I was disappointed, for Albert didn’t have much he could tell me. What he did give me was the really Good News, the Gospel. I remember him turning to John 5:24 and reading it with me: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life”. I reacted by showing him an atheist book, but he simply asked: “Who’s going to be right - God or this book?” After some more conversation, Albert gave me his address and telephone number and left.

     It wasn’t long before I felt I wanted to meet him again. Not that I wanted to talk about the Gospel - I wasn’t really able to say why I wanted to see him. His bearing had impressed me – he was so different to everybody else. It was difficult to put into words.

     So I started to call him, but there never was any response, even though I kept on day after day. So, finally, I decided I’d go personally to his apartment. But though I did find the apartment, I didn’t find him. The janitor of the building told me that he was away in the south, but would return. So after a period I went again. This time the janitor told me that after he had come back from his journey, Albert had moved house. Disheartened I wondered what to do next.

     The janitor was a kind man and seeing me worried, he told me to wait for a few minutes while he went to have look if he did not have a note with the new address. And, yes, he found a ripped piece of paper that had the new address on – it was all I needed to continue my search. This time I was rewarded – I found Albert. What is more, I found my Savior. From there on I stayed as close to Albert as I could and to so many others that were now my family!

     How impressive is God’s sovereign work in people’s lives! Here we have two brothers-in-Christ – the first one loses the address on the other side of the world, but when he finds it again (two years later), he makes sure that the old contact is still followed up. He communicates with number two, the missionary. This one visits me soon after and God begins a work in me, without me even realizing it. After that, it is me, inexplicably, who starts to search, though without knowing what for.

     God was guiding the whole process until the darkness had changed into light - Agapito finally finding a piece of paper lost in Australia, and God finding (and saving) a soul lost in sin and darkness in Madrid! Thanks be to God!

     As these things were unfolding, God also gave me four children, a son and three daughters. By now all are married to wonderful believers. Later six grandchildren started to arrive. The eldest of 19 has been baptized and is active in the Lord’s work.

     I have not been spared serious physical suffering, but in the midst of all of life’s trials and delights I am full of his joy and still growing in understanding. As the apostle Paul said: “I have fought the good fight!” (2 Tim. 4:7).

    


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