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The name of Jesus Christ evokes many responses. To some Jesus is a
prophet, an equal of Moses and Abraham, to others a great teacher - One who set
an example of how to live a good life.
In Tommy’s words: “Things were looking good for me. I was quite happy with my life and felt I had all that a man really needed: a good job, a nice car, a house, a family, and all the sports I could handle. My philosophy of life was: as long as I was having fun, everything was OK”
One day Tommy felt
numbness in his right arm. After a doctor visit Tommy was diagnosed with arterio venous
malformation (AVM) a medical condition where a blood vessel can rupture and
leak. In the years that followed
Tommy’s journey in life became increasingly difficult to the point of losing
“a will to get better.”
Through God’s grace and mercy a
high school friend invited Tommy to church. And after hearing the preaching of
the Gospel Tommy came to the realization religion
could not save him. “I repented of my sins and by faith I placed my trust in
the finished work of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and rose again, so that
God could give the gift of eternal life to me and to anyone else who believed in
him.”
Perhaps your life is one of “having fun” and everything is “ok.”
Your attitude might be as Tommy’s, confident in your having, “a
good job, a nice car, a house, a family, and all the sports [you can] handle.”
But as Tommy mentions in his testimony, “ It is my desire that you too will get serious
about your relationship with God. But I pray for you, friend that you won’t
have to go through the same terrible trials as me, before God finally gets your
attention!”
Discover, as Tommy did -without Jesus Christ - Tommy’s Story is everyone’s story.
Tommy’s Story by Tommy Hinojos |
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Psalm 119:67
Now I'm eternity minded (Heaven bound for ever!), now this verse means more to me then ever before.
“For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
“Hello,
friend! My name is Tommy Hinojos. Would you please allow me to share my story
with you? Thanks!”
I
was born in
I
was raised in the Catholic church. I was baptized, received my first communion
and confirmed. But we rarely attended church. Yet whenever someone witnessed to
me about Jesus Christ or God, I brushed it off and replied that I already knew
God and I had my religion from the Catholic church.
In
school I loved to compete in athletics and I loved to party. I lettered in
football and wrestling. I was also a tough guy and a fighter; at 5’9’’ and
240
After
high school, I married my sweetheart and started a job in a warehouse. We had
three children: two boys and a girl. At age 24, I had a chance to move from the
warehouse into the electrician’s apprenticeship program. I was excited at the
opportunity to learn a trade where I could take better care of my family.
Things
were looking good for me. I was quite happy with my life and felt I had all that a man really
needed: a good job, a nice car, a house, a family, and all the sports I could
handle. My philosophy of life was: as long as I was having fun, everything was OK.
Devastating
news
But
after only two weeks on the new job, I felt numbness in my right arm. The doctor
sent me immediately to an emergency room where I was diagnosed with arterio
venous malformation (AVM) in my head. This is a medical condition where a blood
vessel can rupture and leak. In my case, the leaking caused nerve damage. Then
it went into my brain stem and formed a tumor. I was told there was nothing the
doctors could do, and that I would die within six months!
I
visited several other doctors but they all refused to operate because of the low
chance of survival. Finally I found a doctor who would operate, but he warned
there was a 50-50 chance I would not survive the operation.
The
day before the operation, I was very scared of dying. Even though my religion
taught that heaven was a beautiful place, I had no assurance that’s where I
would go. During the 7 ½ hour procedure, the doctor removed the tumor and made
sure the blood vessel was no longer leaking. I
died on the operating table but was quickly revived. I barely survived the
operation. I was in a coma for two weeks and the intensive care unit for 45
days. I spent a total of 3 ½ months in the hospital.
When
I was alone at the hospital, I could not fall asleep because I was so afraid I
would not wake up. I still feared death. I could only sleep when my wife visited
me and held onto my hand. It got so bad that when I fell asleep, she would place
my hand on the bed rail so I would think she was still holding on.
My
love for my family was the only thing that kept me going through the worst days
and nights. Those relationships gave me the strength and will to live.
When
I went into the hospital for the operation, I had the numbness in my right arm
but there were no problems with walking or talking. I came out in a wheelchair.
Something inside my brain had been damaged and I suffered stroke symptoms.
Today
I still have cerebral palsy symptoms. My
right side is impaired (that’s why I’m in the wheelchair) and I have a
speech impediment.
Losing
everything
When
I left the hospital, I was moved to a rehabilitation home for three weeks.
Afterward I finally came home to live with my family, but things would never be
the same as before the operation.
One
year later, my wife divorced me. I was emotionally devastated by this and my
will to get better was gone. I was now all alone – no wife to care for me and
no children around to lift my spirits. I also had no parents to care for me;
before the illness came, my mother and step-father had died within two months of
each other.
So
I moved in with my grandparents and started drinking heavily. Then I tried to
pull myself out of it. I bought a townhome, moved into it and thought I was
finally getting my life together again.
But
emotionally and physically, nothing had really changed. One
day while I was working out, I realized that things were never going to improve.
So I cried out to God for help and told him I couldn’t do this on my own
anymore.
Within
a few weeks, out of the blue I heard from Jeff, a high school buddy I had not
seen in two years. Jeff heard about my situation and wanted to help. He became
my closest friend through his acts of kindness. He visited me
After
high school, Jeff had become a born again believer of Jesus Christ. He shared
his faith with me and took me to church, but I resisted his challenges with that
same old excuse: that I was a Catholic and I already knew God.
I
was thankful for Jeff’s friendship and help, but did not want his religion.
Jeff moved away for one year. When he returned to
New
hope for my life!
This
time, I was really touched by the clear preaching of God’s word. I realized
that I was a sinner separated from God, and when I died I would spend eternity
in hell.
I
was still afraid of dying, and for the first time I understood that my Catholic
religion could not save me. I repented of my
sins and by faith I placed my trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He
died on the cross and rose again, so that God could give the gift of eternal
life to me and to anyone else who believed in him.
I
was born-again and became a disciple of Jesus Christ. Never again do I have to
fear death, because I have received the gift of eternal life! I am no longer
alone. God is now my father and Jesus Christ is my best friend. I also have a
new family on earth, fellow Christians who love and care for me. Every Sunday
and Wednesday, I have a great church to go where people are concerned about my
needs and where I also have the chance to serve others and make a difference
with my life.
Since
I became a Christian, I have seen God provide many things for me and I praise
him for everything I have. I am now able to live in my own apartment and attend
classes at the community college. God has also given
me the ability to participate in several different types of therapy and
exercise, all of which are very helpful to my recovery.
I
don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I have accepted that this wheelchair and
my disabilities are the will of God for my life at this time. God
uses my life as a way to tell others about the hope I found in Jesus Christ. God
has also promised to give me a new body in heaven. That gives me great joy and
purpose for my life. I want to live the rest of my life serving him.
What
about your life?
It
is my desire that you too will get serious about your relationship with God. But
I pray for you, friend that you won’t have to go through the same terrible
trials as me, before God finally gets your attention! What does God want
to do in your life? Here’s what the Bible teaches.
God
loves you!
"For
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
God
has a wonderful plan for your life.
"I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly." John 10:10b
But
because of our sin, we are separated
“For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
The
penalty for our sin is death.
"For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord."
The
penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus
"But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us."
Jesus
Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins.
"For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans
10:13
"That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation."
Can
you be sure that if you ask Christ to save you, He will?
"Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God . . .; these things have I
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know
that ye have eternal life..." I
John 5:1,13
If
you are ready to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but not sure how to
ask him, here is a prayer to help you:
"Lord
Jesus, I know that I am a
sinner.
I know you died for my
sins.
Right now I invite you into
my
heart to be my Savior and
Lord
and I willingly turn from my
sin
and give my life to you.
Thank
you for saving me. In
Jesus’
Name Amen."
If
you prayed that prayer and meant it, next you need to learn about the new life
in Christ by joining a local church.
“Tommy’s
Story is a testimony of God’s grace and mercy that brings home the importance
of knowing Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. I would encourage the reader to
visit the Promise
of Hope area found on No Tears In Heaven.”
“But I pray for you, friend that you won’t have to go through the same terrible trials as me, before God finally gets your attention!
Tommy Hinojos is president and founder of Toms Accessibility Travel “…created for those who want access to the world and all of it's history, culture, beauty and adventure. Whether you are a slow walker or wheelchair bound, Toms Accessibility Travel … will give you the information you need to travel the world with ease.” http://www.tomsaccesstravel.com/ |