Into His Marvelous Light

 By Chandrasekaran Sabapathy

Having been born into a staunch non-Christian family, I was made to believe in the universality of all religions and that they all led to God the Creator.

The journey into the light through the tunnel of darkness had for me been a long, agonizing, filled with hopelessness and despair, deceit, manipulation, danger to life, guilt-feelings and disappointments. My daughter’s illness (leukemia) and her subsequent death that shattered my dreams and brought to naught all the material “blessings” I had received up to that point in time.

From my younger days I had a desire to live a holy life. One could say that I was the family priest. I had visited various places of worship locally and overseas and took pleasure in spending my money for religious purposes. 

At the same time, temptations of the world and pride of life constantly lured me into sin. Life earlier had been extremely satisfying and I felt I had everything a man could hope for. I had been blessed with an active and rewarding school and college life as well as good jobs in the civil service. I thoroughly enjoyed my career and worked hard, for which I was rewarded by the Government with pay to study courses overseas. I had a happy family, being blessed with a wife and two children.

It was during one of such overseas stints in the United Kingdom that calamity struck my family with my daughter being hospitalised for a two-year period due to leukemia. I took her to various places of worship locally, visited astrologers (including seeking solace in computerized horoscopes from the US) and indulged in various religious rituals performed in temples and by mediums and ‘faith healers’. Palmists and soothsayers were not left out in my search for help. All these not only drained me of money but also brought me more confusion and despair.

When the doctors gave up hope, my wife and I finally took our daughter to South India to consult a faith healer who was said to be ‘a reincarnation of God’ and to seek other places of worship. My faith in all the gods we took our daughter to was shattered when she passed away later. I convinced myself there are to be no more gods in my life.

It was in Pittsburgh (USA), while studying for a higher degree, that I came to experience the work of demonic spirits in my life; bringing fear, suspicion and oppression. I decided to seek God again by reading religious literature and attending religious prayer meetings. Reading books on positive-thinking recommended to me by the psychologist I visited did not help. It was then that I had my encounter with Jesus while watching a TV Gospel and Healing programme. 

I was convicted of all the sins I had committed. I fell to the floor repenting for my sins and asking Jesus to save me. On repenting for my sins and asking Jesus to save me I felt my burdens lifted away and I was overjoyed with the peace I received. Not realizing I was ‘born again’ (as none of my friends in Pittsburgh went to Church or had any personal encounter with God), I went to celebrate the joyful experience in a pub. Soon with my family joining me later, and much to my regret, I went back to idol worship.

On returning to Malaysia, I again began to visit various places of worship. In addition to rebuilding a temple, constructing a chariot and offering costly sacrifices to the gods, I also re-erected an altar in my house, decking it with idols of all the gods I could lay my hands on. Yet, life was not fulfilling and slowly we had family problems.

Finally, the gods in one of the temples (manifesting through the priest) confessed that a certain ‘power’ was coming over me which they were not able to overcome. Thus began my disappointment with the gods I had trusted (not realising that the ‘power’ they were referring to was Jesus). From then on I began to experience obstacles to my idol worship and I was truly perplexed.

One day I came to know James (a taxi driver) who had earlier taken me home from the hospital after a month of treatment for my stomach ulcers. James began to share with me about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and left me with a pocket sized Bible. In the weeks following, due to increased spiritual attacks, I contemplated becoming a hermit or alternatively, take my life by jumping into the Klang River.

Initially I rejected James’ proposition that I allow Jesus to help me. Later, offended by his suggestion that I clear my altar of gods and worship Jesus in spirit and truth. I ordered him to leave.

Through his love for me, James came back shortly with two lady friends. I accepted the Lord soon after hearing the testimony of one of the ladies who is polio-stricken. Indeed I was ministered to by the Lord through her sharing and was totally transformed with rivers of unspeakable joy were flowing into me. I could feel demonic bindings leaving me and sorrows, confusions and negative thoughts vanishing. A newness of hope and strength overwhelmed me and I was ‘born again’.

Later, we destroyed the altar and had a house cleansing prayer. That night, I had a very restful and peaceful sleep after such a long lapse of time. In the early hour of the next morning I had a visitation by the Lord when I was woken up. The room was lit by an unusually bright and glorious light that enabled me to read Psalms 21:11-12 … ‘though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed, for you will make them turn their back when you aim at them with drawn bow’. The verse assured me He would help me to overcome my predicament.

True to His Word, He healed me of my stomach ulcers, ear infection, drinking and smoking habits. Through a prophecy, which I obeyed implicitly, he united me with my family. My Jehovah Jireh even miraculously helped me to settle all my debts and wonderfully provided all the needs of my family.

God answered my prayers by enabling me to serve Him in a Christian organisation. Only His precious promises keep me going one day at a time. 

Praise His Holy Name!