Hindu Testimony
Piccadilly Square in London where we met Israel (the former Hindu) handing out tracts and witnessing the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Testimony of a former Hindu
While carrying the cross in London in the summer of 2001, Michael and I met a man passing out tracts and witnessing to the people on the streets. He gave me this booklet of his testimony entitled "From Darkness to Light" which I have recorded it here for your reading.
Light to All Nations
P0 Box 3517
London NW64QQ (UK)
My name was Gobind D Makhijani. I was born in Karachi (Pakastan) in 1941, in a Sindhi (Hindu) family. My father was a businessman. We were very well off as regards material things and there was no need of any kind in our home.
After partition, we migrated to India and my father again started business from scratch. Soon we again had all the material things and more than we needed.
My family was broad-minded about many things. From childhood I was brought up to pray in temples and take sharan (refuge) in Gurus. I held this faith until I was 33 years of age. I realize now, and the living God continually reminds me, that I was living a messed up and wasted life.
My father died when I was still at school with the result that the whole burden of the business came upon the shoulders of my elder brother Gópal. My sister Usha used to help Gopal. Soon she got married. About that time I finished schooling and was studying at college, in the first year of Commerce.
I thought my brother Gopal needed help in the office, so after my college each day I used to go to the office and work there. Soon I started learning the business and became a full time businessman and the business started to flourish. Because of working the whole day in the office I used to get tired, so I stopped studying at college, in the hope of becoming a multi-millionaire some day with my family. I had all the comforts of material things, but I could not find out why I was still unhappy at heart. This unhappiness sometimes created frustration in me, with the result that I used to argue with my elder brother and family.
In order to get peace of mind I tried to keep myself extremely busy doing something or other in the office to keep myself from thinking. My heart was burning with something I could not understand which caused confusion and unhappiness.
This unhappiness grew more and more when I was about 25 years old. I used to go to Satsang of Gurus, also to Hindu Temples, and worship Guru Nanak, Krishna, Rama etc., but these gods could never give me any happiness (except materially). Inside my soul there was a thirst for something which I could not name. None of these temple gods comforted me. I even went to Vaishnav Devi Mandir at Jummu Kashmir, Haji Malang and so many other places to get blessings from God and to seek peace of mind which I never got, not even a little. Myself and my family's problems about peace in the house and in my mind only increased, making more unhappiness, with the result that I started drinking and smoking to kill my thoughts. Finally I got married in 1970, thinking that possibly my problems would be solved by having a marriage partner.
Since childhood I had big dreams of going to the U.S.A., settling down there and enjoying life, making money and spending it, and helping my family and relatives. But bad times now came. We started losing business, and many other family problems arose. Though my brother and the whole family were worshipping Hindu gods, the more we prayed and trusted these so called gods, the more unhappy our house became. My wife and my mother also could not get along well, with the result that I became more frustrated. Also because of so many business problems, and having no peace of mind, all our comforts began to look like junk to me.
My wife and I could not get along well because of our Hindu belief that it was because of her marrying me that the situation was not improving, but rather the material things etc. began to disappear. The situation grew worse in every way with the result that I started drinking more, and kept bad company who encouraged such things. Even so, I was doing good works too, as well as trying to be a good person, but I could not control myself because of lack of peace in my mind and life. My brother and I could not get on together in business and I had other plans in mind, so I separated from my brother and started my own business.
My mind was disturbed because of family problems and lack of peace. My wife and I used to fight because of differences of opinion, and so we separated for a time and I went to an Arabian country in 1972 for a new export business. I lived with my brother-in-law in Kuwait for 3 months to try to build up a good business.
I was so fed up with my messed-up life, and now with the additional problem of marriage failure, that it all led me to more unhappiness. I went back to India, again having failed, but had some money left with me, so I rejoined my wife. I continued my business and changed my lines many times because I wanted to earn quick money. I thought that if I had money I would get more honor in the sight of man and God. I didn't know then, that God only looks at a man's heart.
However, this time, working independently in property business (buying and selling), I was making a profit. Previously we had lost one child, so when we had the second child I named him Mohit, because somehow I felt as Hindu belief that this son would bring great fortune for me. A year later, in the middle of 1974, when my wife was expecting another child, we had a quarrel over something and we separated again. We also lost this child. During this separation, I was even more unhappy, because I loved my son Mohit so much.
I had sufficient money and all necessary comforts, but my unhappiness only increased because of the problems and emptiness in my heart. I started filling this emptiness, and avoiding problems by spending money on my friends, going to bars, social clubs and expensive places. The drinking habit increased and I went from bad to worse. I was drinking to fill the emptiness in my heart.
On 31st December 1974 I left India for Germany with great hopes of starting business in partnership with a German friend and also of getting married to a good girl, after divorcing my wife from there. My plans failed in Germany because of my friend. I then decided to go to the USA and try my future there. Before reaching the USA, I traveled to various European countries, enjoying all the luxuries, touring many places, staying in expensive hotels, spending money in bars and other luxurious places to enjoy life, all the time expecting my emptiness to leave me, and satisfaction of mind to take place, but all in vain.
My unhappiness, frustration and loneliness only increased. I also lost my money, like the `prodigal son'. I had more problems than ever before after coming to the USA. I had dreamed many colorful dreams of that country and of getting rich. Yet now I had no money, so I started working illegally with the help of a friend, because a lawyer had cheated me by a false promise of getting an extension of my visa.
Now I had to do hard labor like a coolie, and this brought only a few dollars every day. Then again came the loneliness, unhappiness and emptiness which led to lack of peace. My problems increased because my dreams were not fulfilled. I became a drunkard and a smoker and also a playboy. The more enjoyment I got from the pleasures of life the more unhappy and restless I became. I wanted to have something for which I was craving and which was most precious to me, but I could not give it a name.
My drunkenness used to keep me temporarily occupied, but my unhappiness would not leave me. My emptiness was filled only for a while, when I was drunk.
Because of too much drinking, the next day I would have a severe headache, and stomach trouble. I would tell myself to try my best not to drink again, but to lead a normal, simple and good life. However, I could not control my craze for drink, and would end by drinking even more than before. For ten years I tried to stop drinking and all my bad habits, but I could not control myself, because I did not have peace of mind. There was some force which was dragging me to do evil in spite of my longing to be a good person.
When things were completely messed up in my life, both material and spiritual things, my unhappiness grew from bad to worse. I was making approximately $250 (In Rs. app. 8200/-) per month on a part-time job, though I was working very hard like a coolie, and then spending all the money on liquor. At last, after six months, I decided to go back to India, since I had a return ticket. I thought I might again succeed in business there and feel better. I had forgotten God completely, but at that time the Lord remembered me and gave me a new life.
As I was making plans one evening and drinking in my room, when suddenly my eyes focused on an old newspaper which was lying on top of the garbage pail. It had a small advertisement in the corner saying something like this: `Through Jesus Christ many miracles are happening every day. Write for prayers to Life Study Fellowship, Noroton, Connecticut (USA)'
I was so desperate to see miracles happen in my financial life that I wrote to them immediately. In a few days I got written prayers from that fellowship. I just prayed those prayers and at the end of each prayer was written: `I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.' (At the beginning was written, `Dear Heavenly Father'.) You will be surprised to know what happened. In a few days someone left outside my apartment a portion of the Bible, the Gospel of John, published by PT.L. (Pocket Testament League-NJ, USA). I did not know my neighbors, nor did anyone know what I believed, so who could have left the Gospel outside my apartment?
I had never read the Bible in my life nor did I believe in Jesus. I hated Christians and felt the Hindu religion was the greatest and best of religions. But now somehow I got a hunger and thirst in my heart to read how Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, which was the only thing I knew about the Christians when I was in India. I took that small portion of the Bible and started reading it, while traveling in the train, or sitting in a restaurant.
Whenever there was even a little time, my eyes were focused on the Bible without looking anywhere else. I began to feel that by reading that portion my emptiness was being filled with something, and I would forget my problems, and even myself. Secondly, peace was coming into my heart, and ruling my thoughts. Praise God! I had found the true and living God who was speaking to me directly through the Bible verses (the only true Word of God). He was giving me a hundred percent assurance that what I was reading, I needed to know and get it to abide in me, and live in me! It was not enough just to read it but also to practice it. Psalm 119:11 says, `Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee' (King James Version).
In the beginning I did not believe in Jesus Christ, the only God and Savior for all mankind. I did not believe the Bible at all, but God dealt with me in the following way!
First of all, God knew my weaknesses, that I am a greedy man and I always expect material blessing and a quick profit. So accordingly, with great love and compassion He started dealing with me. I never got true love from anyone else. He knew that I had prayed in Jesus' name for miracles and was trying Him as my last resource, so He showed me many miracles.
I came across a stranger at a Railway Station and in a few days he became my good friend. His brother wanted to start a garment business. Since I was a businessman in India, and had some American experience also, without knowing much about me, he decided that he would like to make me working partner in his new clothing business, without a single cent or penny from my side. It was Jesus who did that in order to show me that He is living and had answered my prayers for a miracle. He knew I was ignorant of the scriptures. It was really a miracle since it was not possible in New York to believe strangers. Secondly, it is hard to trust anyone, without proper recommendation.
Anyway, I made a promise that if I started business again, I would put a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in my office and one in my house. So I went to the market to buy two different pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ. I bought those pictures, and as I was coming back to put them in the proper places, I suddenly wondered why I had bought one picture of the Lord on a plate. I was wondering how I would hang the picture on the wall when suddenly the shopping bag I was carrying those pictures in fell from my hand, and that picture of Jesus Christ printed on the plate was broken into several pieces.
Surprisingly the plate was not broken from the head but only from the corners, and half of Jesus was preserved in such a way that it looked like a beautiful antique to be kept on the table. The Lord spoke in my heart that He had done it, in order that I could keep this piece on the reading table opposite me so that I could see him easily.
The other picture which I had bought to the office had a thick frame. It was Jesus Christ at the time of crucifixion. I put it on the window corner. I used to pray in the office and also at home, looking into these two pictures.
However God was speaking many things to me through His Word. Not only that, but in my personal experiences, God taught me many things through His Word. I was a businessman and I didn't believe anything until and unless I had seen or experienced it in my life.
I was only reading the Gospel of John, and I didn't know I had to preach the Gospel, but somehow God used to make me distribute tracts and talk to people about His Son Jesus Christ. It was not I, but a great power that would over-rule me and make me do His pleasure. But another evil nature in me was making me hate myself and tell me that I was looking too cheap.
One day I met a Christian lady who was very kind to me by involving me in a fellowship called Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship of N.Y (USA). I had never before attended a fellowship or a church, but because I had a bad intention of being friendly with this girl, I went to the fellowship. I reached there at the time when the Speaker of that fellowship was speaking about being born again. When the Speaker had finished his message, I went forward to him to ask him the meaning of being born again.
He explained the meaning of John 3:3 (unless one is born of God's Spirit in this world, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God). I told him, I had already repented and received Christ in my home about 6 months back, and Lord gave me Holy Spirit, immediately I started witnessing from that day for our Lord, but speaker of FGBI, NYC Chapter explained since Lord Jesus died publicly (near many people) openly without shame on the cross, so I should now obey Him, and publicly (near all people of that meeting) pray the prayer of receiving Christ as my personal Savior and Lord. Therefore I immediately accepted Jesus Christ who had loved me so much, and I would love to have Him living in me. But I was already saved but still I thanked him for the prayer. Amen.
After that I invited that girl to a restaurant to keep friendship with her. She told me about herself, that before accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, she was a play girl and could not sleep one night peacefully. Burning desires, whisky, cigarettes and sex had become her habits. After accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, the Lord changed her life completely. She even asked God to take away her sexual desires, and the Lord did so. She was trim and slim and had a beautiful figure. Immediately I went home and prayed to the Lord to take away my sexual desires and bad habits of whisky and cigarettes. Within a few days the true and living God answered my prayers. I could not believe it. Now I know that Jesus Christ is indeed the true and living God. The Lord kept me busy in praying. Then Pastor Tom Mahairas of Manhattan Bible Church, 401 W.205th St, NYC (USA) gave me New Testament of the Bible, which I read every day, and God was speaking to me every day that I was not following His commandments as I should.
With the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was chastening me, I got peace of mind and joy and love for all mankind. I still did not believe His Word completely. I had many doubts, but God was still using me in various ways (Romans 10:9-10), like talking to people about Him, distribution of tracts etc. I was still unaware of the first and foremost commandment.
I did not know that in this world the devil exists who is the ruler of the world and that he attacks God's people. The devil attacked me in very tricky ways because I was unaware of the whole New Testament. I came across, while witnessing, many so-called false Christians who were interpreting the Bible according to their own way. Everyone told me different meanings of particular scriptures, with the result that I was confused and started doubting what I had learned from the Lord.
Therefore I started once again believing Hindu gods. I kept guru Nanak's thick and heavy framed picture on one side, and on the other side a plastic picture of Jesus Christ being crucified on the cross. As I was praying to God, believing in both pictures, suddenly there was a loud noise and in a second the Hindu god's picture fell off the table and into the garbage pail. It jumped from that place by some strange power of God and fell itself inside the garbage pail which was lying a few feet away from that picture. I saw a white ray coming down from the sky and throwing it before it fell down.
I was greatly surprised at to how and why this happened. The doors and windows of my office were shut completely, and heat was running inside the office, because it was winter (outside it was too cold and therefore people had to shut their office and turn on the heater to get the proper temperature).
Now I understood why this happened, because God wanted to let me know that what I believed in ignorance about Hindu gods is not a way to God's truth. Jesus Christ's picture was lying in the same place as it was, while this picture miraculously fell off the place and bounced by our Lord on the garbage pail which was lying two or three feet away from these pictures. Isn't that surprising? Now I believed through this experience that Jesus Christ is the truth and whatever He has said is the truth.
Now the time came when God wanted to teach me about heavenly things:
I was working in partnership in a clothing business and found it very hard to adapt to my partners, as I worked so hard and I would get only a few hundred dollars, just enough to meet my expenses and needs. I still have a sinful nature working in me. I did not know that I should not be a partner with an unbeliever.
In 1977 the clothing business went down so much that the partners had to close down the business and God made a way that I could start my own business. I named it `Lord Jesus Garments'. I was the independent proprietor in this business and the Lord guided me after prayer to proper shops and I used to get good orders. The Lord not only made me do His work patiently and part time, but provided my needs more than needed. So I started helping other Christian organizations.
I did not do anything of myself because I was a wretched man. It was the Lord who was guiding me and doing good work through me. The Lord showed me not to keep a bank balance but to live by faith. Still I shrank back on many occasions and did not obey the Lord because of the old nature in me. (The Apostle Paul says, `The desire to do good is always in me, but the flesh is very weak.') I always did part time street preaching of the Gospel and distributed tracts. I would attend different churches every day, except Sunday.
One evening I went to Marble Collegiate Church-NYC for tea, dinner and fellowship with Christians. It was the month of December 1977, and Christmas and New Year were near. I did not know I had to pray for each and everything and ask the Lord's permission. I booked one ticket of $12.00 to go to Marble Collegiate Church for the New Year's Eve Dance and Dinner.
I did not know many scriptures at the time, neither was there anyone to guide me. But the greatest thing was that I took refuge in the Lord completely, and He was with me and guided me. On 31St December 1977 afternoon, I went to buy a full suit and some clothes for that church party.
As I was trying on the full suit I suddenly found that my wallet was lost or stolen. It contained some money, the Master Charge Card, and the $12 ticket for the church dance and fellowship dinner. Now I could not buy the full suit and the clothes, so I was annoyed and left the department store without buying anything. I was greatly distressed, and not aware of God's chastening. But my dedication towards the Lord was quite good, and I would pray to the Lord from morning to noon and read His Word. Then I used to witness for Him, `But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you' (Matthew 6:33 New American Standard Bible).
However, I got so much discouraged at that time, I went to the Police Station to tell them about the loss of the Master Charge Card.
While returning from the Police Station, I started asking questions from the Lord on the way. `Lord why did this happen? I love you so much, and I pray to you all the time, and read Thy Word and witness to people. I have stopped going to movies, stopped drinking and smoking because of Thy grace! Now also I was buying clothes to go to the church in the evening to have fellowship with Christians and to celebrate New Year's Eve.' Many more questions arose in my mind, and I did not know that the Lord was chastening me because that church was not the proper church for me to go to.
I was walking from one street to another, confused, thinking that I would forget about our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and do what I like (backsliding). As I was walking in one of the streets, I saw a church where generally I used to pass many times, sometimes stopping to have a lonely afternoon prayer to the Lord. I didn't want to go in that day, because of my stubbornness and anger with the Lord. Was that why He had prevented me from going to that church for the evening dance?
I didn't know at that time that I didn't want to go to another church, but there was a great war in my heart between my good nature and my evil nature. I hardened my heart and started to go further, when suddenly I felt a great power had overcome my resistance and was pulling me to go inside the Church. I could not resist it, and half-heartedly I went inside and sat On a bench.
There I found a Bible lying, I opened it and began to read from the middle which I did not choose to do, but some power beyond was making me do it. As soon as I opened the middle page of the Bible, the Lord started to speak to me from the book of Isaiah, chapter 42:
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom my soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law. Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk in it,
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon, And those who dwell in darkness from the prison. lam the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another~ Nor my praise to graven images.
Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new
things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you “. (New
American Standard Bible)
When I was reading these scriptures, it was someone speaking to my heart that I am the chosen servant of God. I had never read the Old Testament before, as I had only a New Testament Bible with me. I was really convicted by the Lord's Spirit, that the Lord had a great job for me, looking at such a great scripture and unaware that it was a prophecy concerning Lord Jesus Christ. I once again came nearer to God and said, `I can`t do it, if it is for me to do. By your grace I can be your “servant forever”.'
Then the Lord spoke to me through the scriptures again: `As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your Lord will rejoice over you'. I thanked God later on, for showing me through the brethren at a later stage that I was going to a wrong church, and I should lead a holy and simple life and be contented in whatever state I should be, as the Apostle Paul said:
`I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:12-13, King James Version).
After a few days doing my own work, not paying attention to the Lord's work, I went to New Haven (Conn.) for business. I arrived in time, and being tired of traveling I stayed in a hotel. Since I was tired I went to sleep very soon. The next morning, I suddenly woke up at 5 o'clock. I was so tired I didn't want to wake up so early. I didn't know how or why, but my hand was automatically led to turn on the TV. I put it on and there was a program about the Lord Jesus Christ. It seemed the gentleman had been speaking for a long time. The moment I put it on, he spoke these last words, `God wants to know when you will be free.' When he said that there was a great conviction in my heart that it was definitely the Lord who was speaking to me through that gentleman, and immediately the program ended. I started praying and repenting, asking the Lord to forgive me of my past sins. It was because I had stopped loving Him for a few days as I should have done. I had stopped telling others about Him and was not reading His Word properly, nor praying as much as I should.
I prayed for a long time with `prayer and supplications' and took the Lord's Supper alone. On that day I got a very big order from one department store. Now the Lord showed me that it was not by my salesmanship, but by the Lord's power: “`I am thy God” said the Lord who teacheth thee to profit `-Isaiah 49. I got that order because He did it. God supplied my needs more than I needed for a long time, so I should not worry about money matters for many days, and also I could help others with whatever extra I had (Isaiah 58: 1-11).
The Lord now led me to witness to many people although I was many times being pulled by the temptation of making more money and sinning. I was not aware of many scriptures and was not grounded in the Word of God. Satan was really after me, because I was trying to be faithful to the Lord by His power and His hand upon me. Thank God for chastening me. `If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?' (Hebrews 12:7).
The Lord delivered me from falling into the many snares of the devil, because I was a man with sexual desires and my wife was not with me. When I was an unbeliever, many foreign girls used to be after me. At last, after a lot of prayer, the Lord heard my prayers and provided me a way to overcome temptation by taking away my sexual appetite, and leading me to the proper person through miraculous ways. He was a Jew, a middle aged (54 year old) brother whose name was Harold Bordainick. He offered me the opportunity to live with him so that we could share and care for one another as friends in Christ.
He was really a great blessing to me through the Lord. I learned the fear of the Lord through him, `Oh, fear the Lord and turn away from evil'. He used to spend nights together with me pointing out the scripture verses in Psalms etc. how King David would repent of his sins. I prayed a lot to God for forgiveness of my past sins and turned away from them. The devil will try to keep you away from God, and make you fall into his trap, especially those people who read the Word and do not apply it to their life, and are not aware of the scriptures. The devil attacks in those areas where you are not aware of the danger.
But the Lord was definitely chastening me about matters wherein I was sinning. Again I started going to wrong Churches. One day I saw a beautiful girl. She was a Christian but maybe not born again, so she gave me her phone number. I thought, after reading some Old Testament story of King David and Solomon, God won't mind if I commit adultery once in a while. It was a desire given by the devil, although I did not have the appetite to do it. Because she was a very beautiful girl, and a Christian too, God might forgive us, since He has said in 1 John 1:9, `If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness'. I did not know all the scriptures that say we should not commit sin deliberately, but live for righteousness. For example, 1 Peter 2:24, `Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed' (King James Version).
The next day I had an appointment with that Christian girl, thinking God will forgive me again since He has forgiven me of all the past sins. Do you know what happened? That night, as I was sleeping in my bedroom, I suddenly saw a great vision. I was half asleep and a white figure stood opposite me (it was an angel or Christ) and great fear came in my heart and both my hands were tied up with very thick rope. I wanted to shout but, because of fear, I could not shout. Suddenly my soul, by the spirit of God, in silence talked to that figure: `Forgive me, oh Lord, I won`t do it again'.
The moment I said that, both my hands were loosened and I was completely free. Then I got up, but I saw that the white spirit figure, Jesus Christ, was next to me, as the Psalmist David says, `I had found the Lord on my right hand'. I repented really after that by praying hard and everyday asking forgiveness of sins. `Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' (Philippians 2: 12b). God gave me the power not only to repent for my sins in thought, and try my best not to commit the same sin again. `Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God' (1 John 3:6-9).
`Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play “. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come' (1 Corinthians 10:1-11, King James Version).
I started living a serious and simple life. Brother Harold led me to a Chinese evangelical church and the Manhattan Bible Church, and through going there I learned a lot. I distributed tracts in the train and the street and also preached the Gospel in the street. God taught me through Pastors, through His Word and conviction, so that I could depart from evil and do good.
I once again started preaching the Gospel in the streets, and in the evening at dangerous and busy areas of New York city. At certain times I used to preach till late at night and many drunkards and dirty people used to pass by and were trying to hurt me, but praise God, His hand was upon me. Thousands heard the Gospel.
People over there used to say: `Where are our people? We find this Indian preaching the Word of God here, often till late at night'. Praise God, He gave me great courage and power. I could not have done this work without Him.
Once, as I was preaching till late in the night, I saw a very strong young man coming near me with a knife and trying to kill me. I was a bit afraid, but I looked up and said: `Lord, I know where I am going.' As I was thinking this, suddenly that person changed his mind, put his knife down and bowed before me and asked forgiveness. Another time also when I was preaching alone in the street, suddenly I saw a person trying to hit me with a bottle, but to my surprise he did not do it. His hand stopped half way and suddenly he put his hand down, bowed at me and went away. These events took place many times.
One day, after preaching the Gospel, I was going back home at 3 o'clock a.m. As I was rushing to go down through a passage to catch the underground local train, I suddenly heard the cry of a lady and as I looked back I saw a man was trying to kill me with his knife, but before he did it some power made him fall down from the stairs and his knife fell from his hands, and he became unconscious.
Once, a very strong stout man saw me taking out some money to give to a needy Christian brother. He came forward and asked for the money. I told him that I had just given away the money. He then pulled my hand very hard, but thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, because Jesus gave me a great innocent smile on my face, he looked at me strangely and saw that I was not afraid. So he let my hand go, left me and went away. To my knowledge he was a murderer.
I thank God that many thousands of people heard the Gospel and many have believed.
The Lord spoke to me then through His scriptures: `Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power and have kept My word, and have not denied My name' (Revelation 3:8 New American Standard Bible,). The Lord then started showing me that I must go to India and tell all my people about His dealings and experiences with me.
The Lord has showed me clearly in India that I should especially reach Sindhi people with His Word, and start a Sindhi Fellowship. Recently the Lord made a way for me to reach out to these Sindhis (unreached) in England too.
I was baptized in 1977 in Washington D.C. in a well. The Lord has done many great things in my life and has shown me big plans for His glory in the future. The Lord Jesus Christ is the true and living God, and His Word is one hundred percent true. I have tried the Bible in my life, and every promise of God has proved to be very true. `And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen' (John 21:25, King James Version).
So I praise God that not only has He shown me that He is alive, but that He loves me very much and protects me from all harm. My faith in the Lord Jesus Christ grows more and more day by day. I praise God for that. I believe I am His servant.
If you have any questions, please do write to me. If you want to know more about my personal living experience with the Lord, please do not hesitate to write to me. If you want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please write to me, I shall be happy to send you necessary literature and guide you.
PREFACE
A word from the publisher and author.
This testimony is written for the glory of God. All the facts have not been written. Many more miracles, wonders and spiritual experiences took place. I will share those experiences and facts in my next book that will be my whole testimony till today.
My many thanks to Mr K K Uppal, Chairman of Bombay Port Trust and Chairman of Bombay Port Trust Association who encouraged me to write this testimony and publish it.
Many thanks for thc whole hearted co-operation given to me, and to many Christians, by my very dear friend, late Mr C D Oommachen, MLA, Municipal Councillor and Advocate of High Court.
My prayer is all those who read this book will believe in the true
Saviour of the world (Jesus Christ the Son of God).
Sincerely yours,
Bro. Israel D. Makhijani
Light to All Nations
P0 Box 3517
London NW64QQ (UK)
© Israel D. Makhijani, 1982
First Edition-March 1982, 5,000 copies.
Reprint-May 1993, 3000 copies.
Reprint-1997, 2000 copies.
Printed by: Mudra, 383 Narayan Peth, Pune-41 1 030.
Second Edition-January 1999, 10,000 copies.
Printed by: Christian Publicity Organisation, Garcia Estate, Canterbury Rd., Worthing, UK.
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