I found myself sitting in the county jail in Vider, Texas, back in March of 2007. As I thought about how I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and where I had ended up at 32 years of age , I asked myself if this was all to life — being born, living, drugging and ultimately dying. A stirring in my heart said to me that there was surely more to life than the one I had been leading, but I couldn’t put my finger on it just yet. That’s when a gang member approached me with a book in his hand. He hands me this book that seemed to be following me everywhere I went. I had encountered it at every hotel and motel I had stayed at during my trip out of state and now in county jail once again I’m confronted by the same book that I had been trying to avoid. He tells me he really didn’t know why he was doing such a thing but felt compelled to give me that book, the Bible!! So I asked him what I was supposed to do with it and he states the obvious, READ IT!!!
An Unknown Author once wrote that “The Bible is not an amulet, a charm, a fetish, or a book that will work wonders by its very presence. It is a book that will work wonders in every life, here and hereafter, if acted upon and obeyed in faith and sincerity. It is God’s inspired revelation of the origin and destiny of all things, written in the simplest human language possible, so that the most unlearned can understand and obey its teachings. It is self-interpreting and covers every subject of human knowledge and need, now and forever.”
Not knowing the source or origin of the bible I couldn’t seem to put it down so I embraced it with an open mind and dug deep seeking it treasures. I made it my top priority to get to know the God of the Word and the Word of God. As I sit here in federal prison serving out a 30 year sentence for marijuana conspiracy reminiscing on what took place 12 1/2 years ago in that county jail I’m happy to say that I continue to learn what the bible teaches. What I thought was one book ended up being a collection of 66 books written by 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years. The Bible teaches us how God pursued man from the beginning and what He did to reconcile us back to Himself. He demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It is not a book on religion but one of a relationship. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God through rituals, sacrifices, traditions or good works , but Christianity is God reaching down to man. It’s the gospel the good news that shines upon the hearts of mankind.
So I leave you with some words of wisdom ….. “Embrace the Bible with an open mind and allow the Holy Scriptures to penetrate your heart and be led by the Holy Spirit into Eternal Life, its worth!! Your eternal destination and that of your loved ones is at stake so allow Jesus Christ to become the anchor to your soul. And when the storms of life blow your way don’t be dismayed your hope in Jesus is one that does not disappoint. To God Be The Glory!!
— Omar G.