The Journey… From Darkness to Light…
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-9
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Like most people in my town, our family grew up sleeping under the stars.
The clear night sky with twinkling stars bestowed me with such blissful sleeps.
Our family escaped the heat of the summer nights in India, by sleeping on the roof top. This was the only way to cool off without fans or air conditioning.
But, I had an unlimited view of the dazzling stars in the cool night sky.
Gazing in awe upon the glittering stars for hours, I would ask my mother many questions:
Who made these stars mum?
How are they made?
How many stars are in our sky? These questions remained unanswered for 3 decades.
Little did I knew back then; Almost 30 years later the answers to my cosmos questions would come from an unlikely source – The Bible.
My story is well connected to an ancient Indian Vedic verse (Slokas): In Hindi it is written like this: असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय…
In English :Asato ma sadgamaya tamaso ma jyotir gamaya mrutyor ma amritam gamaya.. this is one of the most famous slokas in India.
It means:
Lead the world from the unreal to the real (truth), from ignorance to knowledge, from mortality to immortality and peace!
Like most people in my town, all our siblings grew up in a very traditional family. At our home we had many idols and images of gods. Our family followed many religious rituals. This was the common practice of the most the families in our culture.
Life created an opportunity to migrate to Australia for a better life. I was dreaming of wonderful future with my family, but suddenly my life plunged into a deep darkness. My wife was diagnosed with complex medical condition while she was 27 weeks pregnant. This issue threatened her life and the life of the unborn baby.
During this darkest moment of my life, I cried out to God. I had heard that Jesus is a miracle working God; And if anyone calls to him with all their heart and mind, Jesus will rescue them from death and disease. In my despair I said in my heart “ Jesus, I don’t know much about you, but if you can save the life of my wife and our child, I will seek to know you all days of my life”. At this moment I had an unusual peace that filled my heart. Later through series of miraculous events my wife, our child and my life were saved from death.
I began to seek God with an intense hunger and thirst. I began to read and study the Holy Bible. Then one day suddenly my life changed forever. The Holy Spirit revealed to me the majesty of creation through the Scriptures. I had amazing experience of moving from deep darkness to a brilliant Light. That Light is the Yeshua, also know as Jesus Christ.
When I was listening to the Bible message, by the grace of God, in my spirit I was able to see a vivid images of God’s creative power. The Bible verses came alive like a lightening surge. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen.1:1) Just as the shutters of the camera lenses opens and closes suddenly, bringing the light to capture the image, my spirit received and secured an unforgettable impression of our Creator God.
What my parents, teachers and education could not explain about the origins of life; answer to my cosmic question was made clear in one simple sentence:
By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made; and all the host of them by His breath (Psalm. 33:6).
I never had an opportunity to know about the creation story. As I studied the God’s words, I realised that God’s love for me is personal and real; and His love to all mankind is also is very real.
You too can experience His amazing grace as you read His word and seek His grace.
1. We all are not up to God’s mark….
Romans 3:23 > For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
2. Our payment pretty fearful…
Romans 6:23 > For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. There is perfect Judge…
Revelation 21:8 > But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.
4. But there is a sure hope through the blood of Jesus Christ – Yeshua
Romans 5:8 > But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
5. Repent (change you mind, your life style) Believe on Jesus Christ
Acts 16:30-31 > He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
John 3:18 > There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16 > For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
6. It’s everlasting, Its a gift! You have not earned it by your good works…
Ephesians 2:8-9 > God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
7. Now you know your true purpose in this life… to know the way to God!
1 John 5:13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
Pray to Jesus to reveal himself to you in a personal way. You will not be disappointed.
Romans 10:10 > I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
