Eli Aringay: A Lawyer, No Longer A Liar

I am a lawyer. Before I came to know the Lord, I was a liar.

I used to pride myself in knowing that I am brilliant. I was an exemplary student from my primary years until college. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in one of the country’s top state universities.

Because of my accomplishments pride started to swell within me and I attributed my successes to my own abilities.
I engaged myself with several unproductive activities: I was an activist in college, a frat member and a band member where I developed vices such as drinking, smoking and even drugs.

I was in college when I encountered a spiritual crisis. In search for meaning, I attended the various gatherings and services of different sects and “religions”.

It was during law school when I was invited to attend a Christian service. After a year, I decided to be baptized to the Christian faith. I felt so “spiritual” at that time. I immediately became active in the ministry work. Due to my inclination to music, I became a part of the music ministry. I also became the Youth Leader. I was also being groomed by my pastor at that time into full time ministry. At that moment, I felt that I have “arrived”!

Rather than feeding my soul with God’s word, personal devotion and prayer, I fed myself with ego and pride from the compliments and “tap on the back” given to me by the church leadership and members. I didn’t realize that the seed of pride in my heart has already grown and has eaten me up.

I used my newfound faith as a license to live a life of sin and immorality. In my mind, I thought that I was “saved” and nothing could take that away from me. Not even my sinful way of living.

During those times, I cheated on my girlfriend who also happened to be my churchmate. I got addicted in the internet and met up with girls from the chatrooms and had sexual relationships with them. I would even intentionally search for married women, bored housewives or single moms. I confess that I felt thrilled at that time doing all of those wicked practices that hurt other people, especially women.

In 2006 I was admitted to the law practice. My being a lawyer worsened my way of living since I had enough money at my disposal. I became extravagant with my earnings and wasted it in bars and clubs. I was boastful and arrogant, always flaunting to people my profession. Moreover, my profession made women more “accessible”. I did not hesitate to have girlfriends left and right as long as I can get them to sleep with me.

However, the Bible tells us the truth that God will reveal to light those hidden in the dark: my girlfriend discovered everything. Out of extreme humiliation, I decided to stop going to the church after the leadership had learned what I did. With no one else to turn to, I went to my other long time girlfriend to open up and explain my situation. I narrated to her the misdeeds I committed and asked for forgiveness. Amazingly, she found it in her heart to forgive me and to give me another chance to work things out with her.
But I just did not get it right away! I did not eventually turn my eyes towards God after that event. Just when I thought everything was back to normal, in the same year, my grandmother whom I love so dearly passed away.

Shortly after I had grieved my lola’s death, I lost my job. I was at the end of the rope. I also had zero in my bank account. As if my being unemployed and being a pauper was not enough, the effects of my unhealthy lifestyle took a toll in my body; I had hypertension.

I heard God’s megaphone clearly in October 2008 when I got involved in a car accident. My car was wrecked but miraculously I did not sustain any injury. That was when I realized that God was already nudging me.

After much prayer, I mustered enough courage to talk to my pastor again. I apologized to him and to the congregation for all the troubles and the shameful deeds I have committed. It was an opportunity for me to humble and acknowledge my faults before God and before the people that I hurt.

After reflecting on my spiritual journey, I then decided to look for other Christian services and this time together with the only person who stood by me all throughout – my girlfriend Rona. We finally ended up attending here in CCF sometime May 2009 where I began to appreciate and learn more of God’s grace of love and forgiveness. I developed that hunger to really know God intimately through His word that I started to read and meditate on the Bible consistently.

That hunger for His Word was thereafter translated into a hunger for fellowship and soon enough, we joined a small group. The welcoming atmosphere and the love we experienced with our small group members contributed much to our Christian walk and made it easier for us to adjust in our new environment. I am currently under the DGroup of Kuya Rene Go, the person who has been like a father to me. I am also a member of the Law Ministry and the couples DGroup of Atty. Robert Samarita.

It was also here in CCF that I finally understood and embraced the privilege of regular tithing.

As I was making my heart straight with God, He slowly restored stability in all the areas of my life. Clients seeking for legal assistance unexpectedly came. I was also blessed with a new job in a real estate company. Last year, God gave me the opportunity to join the government and right now I am currently connected with the Commission on Elections. Indeed, as my heart sought God’s kingdom first, everything else followed. As I did everything to restore my relationship with my Savior, He took care of “saving” all the areas of my life.

In October 10, 2010, I got one of the biggest gifts and blessings from God – Rona and I got married. My wife is now a firm believer of the Christian faith and is an active member of the Exalt team. We are presently classmates in the GLC Level 2 course and by God’s grace, we will graduate this coming March.

I praise God for my wife! Through her faithfulness to God and her unconditional love for me, I realized that love indeed covers a multitude of sin. God’s love for me, through my wife, makes me want to become a better person each day!

I can never truly comprehend how immense is God’s love for us that He sent His only Son to die for our sins and extend forgiveness for all of the filthy things I’ve done in the past. Like the apostle Paul, I am now fully convinced that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.

I may no longer have the same privilege that I once had in leading praise and worship in front of the congregation or being a youth leader even. But those things do not matter to me anymore for I know that the true form of worship is offering my life as a living sacrifice to God. I am still a work in progress but I always see to it that in whatever I do, I keep myself humble before God not solely relying on my own strength, knowledge and ability.

And though I am still boastful, it will ONLY be for one thing now – the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ to which I have now been crucified.

I am Eli Aringay, a lawyer but no longer a liar. To our Lord Jesus Christ be all the glory and honor!