“DO YOU THINK THAT I’LL EVER FIND GOD?"

 A Story Worth Sharing

Ribai was a student of theology.  The professor who taught the subject of FAITH noted and assumed Ribai’s shabby appearance and hair-style were nothing more than just common fashions of the time. The professor reminded himself within of the proverbial phrases:  “DON’T   JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER” and “it is not what is ON his head BUT what is IN it that counts”.

Soon the professor found out “who” Ribai was (an atheist) as he persistently laughed and mocked about the spiritual truth of Father-God’s unconditional love and Trinitarian.

"Prof. Do you think I'll ever find God?" Ribai cynically said to the professor on the last day during the class on Theology of Faith.

With a little shock therapy Professor replied. "NO!" 

Ribai replied empathically: "Why not?"  

Professor said: “Ribai, I don't think you'll ever find Him. But I’m absolutely certain GOD SHALL FIND YOU!”

Some years after the graduation, Ribai called to drop by to see the professor. When Ribai entered his office, the professor noticed Ribai’s body was very badly wasted. He was ‘bald-head’. His long hair had all fallen out due to chemotherapy treatment, but his eyes were bright and his voice was firm.

Ribai said: “I’ve been very sick ...with lung cancer ... it is now a matter of time ....”

The professor asked: “Tell me what it is like throughout your illness... especially so when you know that you‘re going to leave this world very soon.....”

With deep sigh of regret Ribai said tearfully: “Well.... being just over fifty  (years) I’ve no values or ideals than thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies in life... In fact my coming to drop by to see you to tell you the GOSPEL TRUTH ...You answered me ‘NO’ when I asked you ‘IF I WOULD EVER FIND GOD’.... and to which you also added: ‘GOD WOULD FIND ME’ ... I thought intensely about that ...and the purpose of life in this world........"

The professor asked: “Ribai ! Have you found the purpose(s) in your life?”.

Ribai replied: “With my sufferings and pains from the illusions and frustrations generated by worldly pleasures ...and with malignant cancer, I grew serious about locating God’s presence.... I banged my fists against the ‘bronze doors of heaven’ .......God did not come out. I just quit... I didn't care to find God and what would be life after death. I  DECIDED to spend my remaining time doing something more profitable on remembering what you said in one of the classes: ‘The essential sadness is to go through life without loving’. I also found out that ‘it would be equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them’.....”

In his keenness to know more, the professor asked: “What did you do then...?”

Ribai continued: “I began with the hardest task by asking my father if he could sacrifice his newspaper-reading time to talk with me ... I said him that I wanted him to know that I love him...nad I asked him to forgive me for all the hurts and shames I cause him....The newspaper he held fluttered to the floor...

He cried and hugged me.. forgiving..reconciling... saying real nice things to each other....We talked all night in spite of his early tiredness to take rest and refresh for work early in the morning.... It was easier with my mother and even much easier with my little brother and sister....I shared the things I’d been keeping secret for so many years...I was only sorry about one thing that I had waited so long..... It was the beginning of my turnaround day. Though I couldn’t see Him the most important thing for me was that in time of need God was near me. I could experience His engulfing and consoling presence of love...forgiveness, and reconciliation...

GOD FOUND ME WHEN I STOPPED LOOKING FOR HIM... Some of the verses from the Bible came to me lively in meanings for example the Apostle John said that...He said: "God is love, and anyone who lives in love is   living with God and God is living in him.''

The professor was deeply touched and requested Ribai to testify to new students in his theological class of faith to which Ribai gladly agreed. Just one day before the scheduled testimony, the professor was asked to visit Ribai in the hospital.

Surrounded by his parents and siblings, Ribai said faintly: “Prof ... I’m very sorry ... I may not make it to testify in your class as scheduled tomorrow... ... I know for sure now that Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life... I’m leaving to be with Him....Will you tell your students and the church how my FAITH guided me to God’s loving and forgiving presence and how I found life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.”

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Ribai made the great step forward from FAITH into VISION.

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