Why Did I Become a Christian?

I was born into a Hindu family. Because of my grandparents, we were one of the most “religious households” in my whole village. They organized at least one big puja a month and donated thousands and millions to several causes. Everybody in my village respected our family because of my grandparents. I was also supposed to follow in the footsteps of my forefathers. But the God who created me in my mother’s womb had a different plan. He entered the scene and picked me out to be His light in the midst of light-seekers. My religion had a huge number of dos and don’ts, but it could not connect an individual to the true Creator of the Universe.

I became a Christian not because somebody offered me money, nor because I had seen a healing or some strange miracle in my family. If that had been the case, I would have backed off long ago. In saying this, I do not denounce the healings and miracles that happen in the Christian world. In fact, the Bible itself says that God verifies His Word with miracles, signs, and wonders. But slowly, a zeal arose in me to study the Bible and listen to the preaching in the church, and I began doing both. I found that the God of the Bible came to earth in human form to redeem humans from sin and to reconcile them with Himself. The same God, who knew no sin, humbled Himself so much that He did not protest even when He was hanged on a cross, bearing the sins of all humanity. But He rose from the grave on the third day, appeared to more than 500 people, and, after forty days, ascended to heaven as His disciples watched, promising to come back in the future to judge the world.

Among all the preaching I had heard in my family’s pujas, rituals, and celebrations, I had never heard this kind of story. I had never known of a perfect God, or a person, who loved sinners so much that He was ready to die for the remission of human sins and conquered death. In fact, almost all of the pujas and good works were done so that we could earn a way to heaven. Everything we did was done to please the gods so that they would bless us with riches, wisdom, health, and ultimately eternal life. But it was all in vain. These ceremonies did not stop even after a person’s death. We performed ceremonies for the dead so that they could earn a way to heaven. Now I realize how ignorant and foolish that was!

Long story short, I believed that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of my life. Then He sent His Spirit to dwell inside me, to enable me to live as His witness. Since then, nothing I do is focused on earning my way to heaven or pleasing God through good works. In fact, I do these things because the Spirit of Jesus Christ is in me, and He inspires me to do good works. Many times I fail and do wrong. But the same Spirit of Jesus Christ who is inside me is faithful to point out that sin, lead me to repentance, and enable me not to fall again. Everything I am or aspire to be, I owe to Jesus.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I humbly offer you a challenge: find a sinless and perfect person or god who has died for the remission of the sins of all humans, who rose from the dead, and who ascended to heaven. I assure you, you will find none except Jesus Christ Himself. If you also want a relationship with the God who created you in your mother’s womb, please say this sincerely: “Oh God, who created me in my mother’s womb, I don’t know who You are or what You look like. But if You will reveal Yourself to me, forgive me of all my sins, and help me know You, I will follow You and serve You for the rest of my life.”

Remember, Christianity is not about Churchianity, nor about doing good works, nor is it “another religion.” It is having and walking in a relationship with the true Creator.