The testimony of Mariappan Eddiah . [Malaysia]

Intro:

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The above verses were literally fulfilled in my life. I was born into a Hindu family of nine sisters and a brother in 1968. None of my ancestors were Christians. When I was two years old, I came down with high fever that made my left leg paralyzed. I was a quite religious person. I grew up listening to moral stories and I loved truth and fairness. I had a plan for my future. I wanted to start a World War, which I thought would eliminate all evil. I hated America and the western world, which I saw as the cause of all evil on this earth.

I was a self-righteous person. I judged and condemned the sins and the wrongs of the world, not knowing that I myself was a mere sinner. I saw myself as a crusader against injustice and evil.

Krishna in ancient India proclaimed this truth in the majestic words:
"Whenever there is a withering of the law... and an uprising of lawlessness on all sides, then I manifest Myself. "For the salvation of the righteous and the destruction of such as do evil; for the firm establishing of the law I come to birth in age after age. "He who thus perceives My birth and work as divine, as in truth it is... he goes to Me, Arjuna." - The Bhagavad Gita, Translation of Charles Johnston, IV, 7, 8.

As a Hindu, my agenda and thinking was not wrong. Nothing I knew or learned form childhood or in the school said that what I believed was wrong. I liked reading about other religions and their teaching whenever I had the opportunity or the materials but none of these religions had any real affect to compel me to convert. As any other Hindu, my thinking was that I was an Indian and as an Indian, I must be proud to be a Hindu and worship an Indian/Tamil God. And as for Jesus, he is a white man's god. Islam was more interesting to me than Christianity. I even joked with my sister few months before I came to known Christ about converting to Islam.

As for Christianity, my knowledge about it was limited. I never heard about any Bible Prophecy. Once I saw the movie about Jesus when I was young. It didn't have any effect on me. As far as I was concerned, the Bible was a book full of prayers for Christians. When preachers come to my house, I would lie to them that I was a Muslim. They would leave immediately as it is a crime to preach Jesus to a Muslim.

My calling to the TRUTH came from God Himself. Somewhere in 1996, my sister had brought a pocket size NIV Bible from a hotel. It was lying around for many days. I can't remember how it came into my hand. Everything seems like a miracle. One day I picked it up and started reading it. After reading the Book of Matthew, I continued with the Book of Mark. After reading a couple of chapters, I thought that it was a repetition. But thank God that I didn't stop reading. Finally I finished reading the entire Bible. The Bible not only answers all my questions about life but it also presented many questions with the answer. Then I knew for sure that there was a God and there was a purpose for our being here. I was born again. I became converted. But I didn't give up worshipping idols and I didn't tell anyone about this. The change came slowly. God was guiding me and paving the way for the change to take place. Now I am still living with my parents and sisters. Today I stay away from their religious ceremonies and celebration.

The Internet played a vital role in my Christian life. I read many articles and writings on Christianity by early Christians. I had no human teachers. Until now, I never attended any church service and I am still not baptised. I don't really know if Baptism is necessary. I will wait for God to guide me. Amen.