Team C4C Testimoniesنموونە

Changed forever

When I was 16 years old, a friend from work invited me to go play pool after our shift ended. I walked into a smoke-filled room on Preston Highway in Louisville, Kentucky. The place was called Bennie’s. A great man named Frank ran the joint. And pool—for me—was love at first sight!

I was at Bennie’s almost every night for the next three years. Frank, for some reason, took a liking to me and taught me how to play. I’ll never forget the first tournament I won, at age 17. I was so nervous over the straight-in, tournament winning 9-ball. I cued at the center of the ball but somehow put so much top spin on it that the cue ball followed all the way to the corner pocket and just teetered on the edge. I have no idea how it didn’t roll in—but it didn’t—and I got a trophy. I was validated in that moment somehow. I was now a pool player.

But the game of pool didn’t fill the empty void in me. Even winning tournaments or taking home a trophy was only momentary satisfaction. See, I was a sinner. My life was a mess. I knew about God but I didn’t know him personally.

Fortunately, at age 19, I heard someone preach the gospel. He shared from John 14:6 (NIV), where Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” He shared from Romans 3:23 (NIV) that we have “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” He also shared Romans 6:23 (NIV), which tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And he shared Romans 5:8 (NIV)that says that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He shared that Jesus conquered the grave and took away the penalty that I would face through his perfect life, tragic death, and miraculous resurrection. When I heard the good news, and accepted it, I was changed forever.

Yes, I’m a pool player. But that isn’t my identity. My identity is in Christ. I am a follower of Jesus—the old has gone and the new has come! I enjoy pool immensely. And I want to win every game, set, and tournament I play. But I am not a pool player who follows Jesus. I’m a follower of Jesus that plays pool. My identity is wrapped up in the one who set me free!

Eric Geary