You could truly call me an incorrigible. As a young man, less than thirty years old, I had led a totally selfish life. I was idle and purposeless, and my life was miserable. I was only a burden to my family, who were all staunch Hindus.
I had a gift for vocal music and won awards for my proficiency. I was often invited to funeral parties to sing mourning songs during the ceremony.
Sad to say, I indulged in drinking and smoking, and I was also addicted to opium and other narcotics. I became the head of a gang of young men, all reckless fellows who did not hesitate to engage in terrible fighting. Sometimes I even spent the night in the graveyard dodging the police, and finally I ended up in jail. My parents were furious with me for all my bad behavior.
Dejected and desperate, I sought the help of a friend who might assist me in getting a job, but I could not find his correct address. The next day I again went in search of this friend, and one of his neighbors directed me to his upstairs home. (I remembered having seen this neighbor many times before, but had never spoken to him: I had heard he was a Christian.)
After I had finished my errand, this Christian man spoke to me very kindly and gave me a tract, “A Faithful Friend.” Since I was short of money, he gave me two rupees for bus fare.
While traveling in the bus I read the tract, and for the first time I attended the Christian service in Chennai. I had read many religious books, but I found that there is none like the Bible that touches the heart of man. I was impressed by the verse, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Soon after that I got a job, but one day when I went to work I was shocked to hear that my service was terminated. I was very troubled about the loss of my job and went to my Christian for consolation. He prayed for me, gave me a New Testament and told me to read Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This verse helped me to regain courage and I was relieved of my worries.
When I went the next day to receive my salary, I was surprised that my boss wanted me to resume work again. My joy knew no bounds. Immediately I went to my Christian friend to give him the glad news, and his response was, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
Day by day as I read God’s Word I realized more and more what a great sinner I was. I confessed my belief that Jesus Christ had died to save me from the inevitable penalty for my sins. I put my trust in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Savior. Praise the Lord!
Sometimes my thoughts wander back to those days. What a wretched and miserable man I was! I wasted my precious time in “riotous living.” How true is the verse in the Scriptures: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl. 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)).
How great and merciful is our God, who said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” He will forgive your transgressions and remember them no more.
Now I am working in a Christian bookstore in Chennai. I hope and pray that everyone who reads my testimony will consider for a moment the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you made serious preparations for the life to come? The promise of Jesus Christ still holds good: “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).