Jesus and I...

I often get asked why I became a Christian. This is my story as to how and why I turned to Jesus Christ. I was born and raised as a Hindu, coming from an Indian family. Before my conversion, Hinduism was what my life was based on, I knew no other way and wanted no other way and condemned and often mocked anything other then Hinduism. I made two trips to India on pilgrimage, pre-conversion. I was extremely devout toward the Hindu religion. As a teen i began to drift towards the wrong crowd and experimenting with drugs; nothing too heavy or uncommon for my age. I was brought up with strong morals and had a conscience about those things. To be fair, I got out before i got in too deep. I started off as most kids do in life, mildly tempered. Out of no where, I began to develop serious aggression and anger. I'd be so furious I'd sweat and get headaches. Before Christ (BC) I was like this regularly...an average day! There were times where I didn't see the point of being alive. I felt lost and without purpose, like my life counted for nothing. I can clearly remember days where I would wake up and want to be put out of my misery. I couldn't outwit the thoughts of death. I had no peace and felt consumed by it all. My mum (a strict Hindu) in 2001, walked into Church as she heard that people were being prayed for and healed, so she wanted to see what it was about. She went and realised what she had been searching for her whole life (something of God) was present amongst these Christians. It wasn't the building, as the Christians were renting out a school. It was the incomparable presence and power of Jesus. She went there as a woman who looked lifeless. She came back with this glow. She was full of life. This is because God touched her. The instant she came back I had a go at her and told her "Jesus is the God of the white folk, He isn't for us. Never go church again...it's probably a cult...you can never ditch the hindu faith." (Not to be racist, but this was how limited my understanding was! Like most people i just assumed everyone is christian.) I went along to church with her as I thought it was a cult and wanted to protect my mum. When I went, I was taken back by the love I was greeted with and the warmth i felt. I didn't listen to the message and I wasn't impressed with their way of worship. I kept going along to the church anyway. I prayed harder to the Hindu gods, I fasted more, and i dedicated myself more. On the inside my faith in it diminished as all these religious duties weren't really getting me anywhere. None of my prayers were being answered. It all just felt dead. I began to look into all the religions and discovered none of them offer forgiveness of sins or bring any kind of redemption from the past. Only Jesus does, that too on account of what He has done on the cross, not on what we as mere humans do. So as my faith in Hinduism diminished, my stint amongst the wrong crowd did too. I felt like death warmed up. My world was caving in as no one could be trusted. Deep inside, I was fighting Jesus' offer of Life very hard. I even tried to tell myself there is no God and tried living as an atheist...this lasted all of a couple of hours! I just knew there was something out there and there was more to life than this. Truth is I would have turned to anything but Jesus. I just didn't want to go heaven on account of Jesus. Anything BUT Jesus. Can't explain why i was so resistant to him... Its was Father's Day, June 2002 when my mum dragged me to church. I was reluctant to go. It turned out we had a guest speaker come, who had been healed 2 weeks prior from a brain hemorrhage. His health is completely restored - he's fully healed, alive and well today. He prayed for me and I experienced God's touch. Later that day I saw Jesus. From then on, He became real to me. However, i continued to resist Him. I just didn't want to give my life to Him. I was invited to a church meeting in Manchester, November 2002. It seemed right to go. I went with my family. Church leaders and Christians were praying for me. Something was going on because of their prayers. I would be in the line for prayer and these guys would pray for me and they prayed about what was going on inside of me. Its clear God revealed it to them as I never spoke about any of it. Jesus began touching my life. Still resistant though. ...So there I was in Manchester with no peace whatsoever, ready to lash out at the next person that looked at me the wrong way. I came to the end of the road and realised my need for Jesus. That night, on the 2nd of November 2002 I became a follower of Jesus by the Power of God. The shackles of fear were unlocked, the cords of death were cut off, the chains of darkness broken, the handcuffs of sin were removed, the blindfold of religion was taken off. I had never felt any peace up until this point. But now I'm free! I live in this peace! It feels good! Everything that troubled me melted away in that instance. I received Jesus Christ, the Saviour, who died for all on the Cross; and was raised from the dead. He's going to return too. This is the best decision I've ever made and will ever make. All the thanks and the credit go to Jesus alone. If you've never heard it, hear it now: Jesus loves you and has a plan and a purpose for your life. He is reality - not some distant, vague Grandad in a cloud, somewhere. He came to heal us, set us free and save us. He is THE one way ticket to Heaven. To reject Him is to reject all hope. Anyone can be forgiven and cleansed and given this gift of life, no matter how far or disqualified you may feel. If you're serious, He's serious. Religion is nothing more than man's attempts to impress god. You can't work your way into heaven by being a do-gooder. Karma is nice but not real. Neither is reincarnation. Being saved is a gift that comes by faith. I'm talking about a relationship with God through Jesus. He won't refuse anyone and He condemns no one. If you want Jesus, pray: Dear Jesus, I've read about you and I want you. I confess I've done wrong and I'm sorry. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Come into my heart, I give you my life, take your place in it. Be my Lord, My Saviour, and my Everything. I repent and turn to you. Thanks. In Jesus Name, Amen. Thanks for reading people. Mail me with any Q's or feel free to comment whatever the nature of it, I would love to hear from you. Also, if you're agnostic, or claim to be an atheist, ask Jesus to show you whether He is real. Its between you and Him. If you're serious, He's serious. Just say from your heart: "Jesus, if you're real prove it to me please, as i want to know." Jesus has nothing against people of other religions, He is for all. Neither do I have anything against people of other religions. This is my story and my journey.