林以谦
耶稣曾经说过：「我来本不是召义人悔改，乃是召罪人悔改。」（路加福音5:23）以谦弟兄在今年的感恩见证会上为我们分享了耶稣在他生命中三次把他寻回的事蹟。
第一次寻回——母腹中的拣选。
我从小就生长在基督教家庭。我在小学的时候就开始读圣经、上主日学。我感谢神，早在我懂事之前，神就为我预备了一个很好的环境来认识祂、跟随祂。然而，我对圣经的教导并不明白，即使学习了也仅是在字面上的理解，我并没有真心地跟随耶稣、活出圣经的教导，也没有与神建立一个好的关系。我更多的时候，是跟着世上的大家一起追名逐利，而不是去追寻救主耶稣。我在这个过程中感到迷失。我虽然屡次追寻到了自己渴望的成功，但在短暂的喜悦之后，伴随着的是巨大的压力与不安全感，因为我害怕无法持续维持自己的荣耀，也害怕追寻不到下一个成功。于是，就有了耶稣第二次把我寻回。
第二次寻回——迷失时的指引
在大学三年级的时候，我感到非常的迷失。有天我向神祷告说：「主我想信靠你，但同时我又不知道你是不是真实存在的神，求你回应我的祷告。」我感谢神在我信心最软弱的时候，立刻就回应了我的祷告。在祷告第二天，在食堂吃午餐时，就有两位弟兄来到我身旁，问我愿不愿意多多认识耶稣。感谢神，在我迷茫的时候，感动弟兄来帮助鼓励指引我。于是，在第二次被耶稣寻回后，我开始比较多地去主日聚会、团契。但我心中依然贪恋着这个世界，没有全然真心地去追寻主耶稣。对于圣经的教导，我其实也仍是一知半解，甚至有许多错误的理解。但感谢神，愿意在当时冥顽不灵的我心中赐下一个感动：就是知道自己的信仰状态并不好，并且默默渴望着一个转机。
第三次寻回——转机与成长
感谢耶稣，第三次把我寻回，回应了我内心的这份感动。大学毕业，我跟着同学们一起申请出国读书。起初我是想申请硕士，最后却意外读了博士，还意外地来到了洛杉矶。现在回头看，这都不是意外，是神伟大的安排。借由在这里读博士班，我能够在这个认真学习圣经的教会待好几年，更因为博士班单纯的生活，让我能心无旁骛地去接受建造。神透过一次次的聚会、团契、查经班、还有门徒训练，逐渐更新我的内心。现在我终于懂得要一心追寻耶稣，并看重我跟耶稣的关系，胜于世上的一切。回顾过去几年，我认为在实验室学习做研究、拿学位都只是其次。我最大的收获，就是能有这样一段完整的时间去学习神的话语、学习如何做主门徒，并跟神建立一个美好的关系。神让我真实去经历到了，要先去求祂的国和祂的义，而其他的神都会加给我们。博士班这几年非常忙碌、充满著各种挑战，但我的内心满有平安、喜乐与盼望。这是曾经的我，在离弃神时所无法感受、甚至想像的。这就如腓立比书 4:7所说：「神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。」
耶稣说：「我就是道路、真理、生命。」我从小就读过这段话，却没有真心地去追寻耶稣。我自傲地觉得可以靠着自己的能力去摸索出自己的道路、自己的真理、自己的生命。现在当我回头看这段过去，我看到的是一个很自以为是、不讨神喜悦的人。但在这后面，更重要的是，我看到了神的大爱与恩典。面对这样一个屡次不顺服的人，神不是把他赶出家门，而是有耐心地，一次又一次把他寻回。
圣经里面有个浪子回头的比喻，讲的是一个小儿子跟父亲要了属于他的那份家产，要出去独立生活。拿到大笔金钱后的小儿子过著放荡的生活，最后花光一切、穷困潦倒，才痛定思痛地回来向父亲认错。而他的父亲不但没有责备他，反而是张开双手欢迎他，甚至大摆筵席庆祝。这个比喻，就是耶稣对待我们的态度。神曾经任凭我去摸索自己的道路，因为祂知道，自傲的我需要经历过一番跌跌撞撞之后，才能真心悔改，然后谦卑地回到祂的面前。并且，当我真心悔改之后，神也如这个父亲一样，立刻张开双手来拥抱、接纳我。我被神这份超越一切的爱深深感动，并决定要一心跟随耶稣。
感谢神的信实、耐心、与慈爱，我今天才能在这里分享神在我生命中的大能。愿一切荣耀归于主耶稣基督。
Testimony of Jason Lin
Jesus once said: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Today, I want to share three instances when Jesus sought and found me in my life.
The first time Jesus sought me was when I was born. I was born in a Christian family. I began reading the Bible and attending Sunday school as a child. I am grateful that God prepared a nurturing environment for me to know and follow Him at such a young age. However, I did not truly understand the teachings of the Bible. Even though I learned them, my understanding was superficial, and I didn’t sincerely follow Jesus or live out the Bible’s teachings. I also failed to establish a good relationship with God.
Instead, I often followed the world in pursuing fame and wealth rather than seeking the Savior, Jesus Christ. In this process, I felt lost. Although I achieved some of the successes I desired, the fleeting joy was followed by immense pressure and insecurity—fearing I couldn’t maintain my glory or attain the next success.
The second time Jesus sought me was when I was in my junior year of college. During my junior year of college, I felt deeply lost. One day, I prayed to God, saying, “Lord, I want to trust in You, but I am unsure if You truly exist. Please respond to my prayer.” I am grateful that God answered me when my faith was weak. The very next day, while eating lunch in the cafeteria, two brothers in Christ approached me and asked if I wanted to learn more about Jesus.
After being found by Jesus for the second time, I began attending Sunday services and fellowship more regularly. However, my heart was still attached to worldly things, and I didn’t genuinely pursue the Lord Jesus. My understanding of the Bible remained shallow and even incorrect. Even so, I thank God for placing a stirring in my heart at that time—an awareness that my faith was not in a good state and I was longing for a turning point.
Jesus responded to the movement in my heart as he sought and found me for the third time. After graduating from college, I applied to study abroad with my classmates. Initially, I aimed to apply for a master’s degree but unexpectedly ended up pursuing a Ph.D. in Los Angeles. Looking back from today, I finally understand that this wasn’t a coincidence—it was God’s grand plan. By studying in a doctoral program here, I had the opportunity to spend several years in this church, which diligently studies the Bible. Furthermore, life as a Ph.D. student has few distractions, allowing me to focus on spiritual growth. Through countless gatherings, fellowships, Bible study sessions, and discipleship training, God gradually renewed my heart. Now, I’ve learned to wholeheartedly pursue Jesus and prioritize my relationship with Him above all else. Looking back, I realize that learning to conduct research and earn a degree was secondary. My greatest gain was the time to study God’s Word, learn how to be a disciple, and build a relationship with Him. God allowed me to truly experience the truth of Matthew 6:33: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Although my doctoral studies were busy and challenging, my heart was filled with peace, joy, and hope—something I couldn’t feel or even imagine when I was away from God. As Philippians 4:7 says, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Although I read this verse as a child, I never truly sought Jesus. Arrogantly, I believed I could carve out my own way, discover my own truth, and define my own life. Now, looking back at my past, I see a person who was self-righteous and displeasing to God. But more importantly, I see God’s immense love and grace. Despite my repeated disobedience, God did not cast me away. Instead, He patiently sought me again and again. The Bible tells a parable of a prodigal son—a younger son who asked his father for his share of the inheritance and left to live recklessly. After squandering everything and falling into poverty, he finally decided to return and confess his wrongdoings to his father. Instead of rebuking him, the father welcomed him with open arms and even held a feast to celebrate his return.
This parable reflects how Jesus treats us. God allowed me to explore my own path, knowing that my pride needed to be broken through trial and error before I could genuinely repent and humbly return to Him. And when I truly repented, God, like the father in the parable, immediately embraced and accepted me with open arms. I am deeply moved by God’s love that surpasses all understanding and have decided to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Thanks to God’s faithfulness, patience, and compassion, I can share His power in my life today. May all glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ.
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