Rev 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (NIV)
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To God be the Glory
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This is a true and living testimony about how I struggled to bring my father to Christ. Indeed it is not easy for a very traditional and staunch Buddhist family to accept Jesus Christ. Without exception, my family was strongly against Christianity. Before my father accepted Jesus as his
personal Saviour, he had faced much spiritual hardships and struggles. But through his endurance, he experienced God's promising love and faithfulness for him as what the Bible in Psalms 108:4 says :
For great is your love, higher than the heavens, your faithfulness reaches to the skies."
Since young, I could realise the need for peace in a family. I had witnessed unfortunate happenings to my family. They were bitter experiences I could not forget. There were times I wondered, "My family has worshipped zealously to many idols in the house. Where is the peace we needed ?" Yet I had never experienced that real peace until I knew Jesus. My father had
shared that exact same feelings as me which inspired him to be adamant for God's peace and comfort till his last day. I still remember the contention my family had over his acceptance of a western god, "He is old now and has lost his mind. He may be possessed," they stressed. Rather, he was sober and knew his only source of help came from Jesus in the storms of life. As
Psalms 121: 1-2 says :
My father accepted Jesus Christ after he became ill. In his vulnerable and weakest state, God became all the more his comfort and strength to overcome his sickness. I recalled his cries and agonies over the intense back pain he suffered each day but we were helpless. Before I knew he was suffering
from cancer, I was determined to introduce Jesus to his life. The only true and living God who cares and gives salvation to all. Jesus says in John 6:47 - 48
John 6:51
God understand my anxiety. All of a sudden, I received much prayer support and encouragement from church friends and close ones. One night, my father's back pain was quite unbearable. He finally agreed that I prayed to the Lord about it. It was that night the Lord touched him through my prayer while rubbing his back. His back pain was relieved and he could sleep peacefully for the very first time. God had enlightened me as to how I could minister to him that way and it was the beginning of great changes in his life. Family's oppression was obvious when they restrained me from helping him. In spite of witnessing God's miracle, their hearts were hardened. "Your father cannot become a Christian, it is very sinful against our religion ! You are already married, leave us alone. We will consult Chinese mediums to help him !" warned my mother. They sought all kind of remedies to help him but his back pain only worsened. "If only I can die now than suffer in unbearable pain." my father pleaded. Could I ignore his plea ? Surely God wanted me to help him instead of pleasing the family members for they are living in the dark. What a dilemma I had ! I did not have other alternatives but to bring him to my home every night so that I could continue to help him. My father was supportive of my intention despite their objections. Thus, the Lord blessed him greatly in his sickness. His faith was further strengthened as he experienced God's love more and more. It was not long later that his hope was again dashed. The family had decided to stop him from coming to my house. A new door lock was installed to prevent him from leaving the house. Individual members consulted the Chinese medium to treat him however it only worsen his illness. From here, I could vision the demonic forces at work and there was a spiritual warfare going on over my father's perseverance for Christ. Suddenly all the family members turned so aloof and unfamiliar to me as they were deeply blinded by the devils. Despite my persuasions, they failed to understand our father's decision to believe in Christ and that only God is able to help him in his sickness. Having gone through much obstructions and also family's persistency to stop father from coming to my house, he finally lost the will power to live on when he deliberately shunned from foods. It was evident that my father's sickness had worsened the moment he vomited blood. Perceiving he would die soon, he expressed his wish to get baptised, I therefore arranged a family meeting as instructed by my father. Expectedly, the meeting was abortive because all my brothers did not show up. My father's sadness was visible from his tear-stained eyes after many times of disappointment. Wordless, he signaled me to bring him out of the house immediately. I was upset with their unreasonable treatment toward father which drove me to bring him away from the house. At that time, I aided his weak body towards the door out of impulse. Our intention to leave the house was prevented as my mother had to summon all the brothers to come home at once. Shortly after the brothers arrived, my father clarified to them about his relationship with Jesus and his wish to get baptised before he died. When they again discouraged him, he became annoyed and was disappointed with their behaviour when he demanded, "This is my will, no one can stop me. I want to become a Christian. I want to get baptised" . It was the first time I witnessed him speaking up bravely and authoritatively to all his loved ones as God's strength was inspiring him. In my heart I knew God has already heard his sincere profession and he is saved. One of my brother even took out a talisman from his wallet and challenged him, " You brought this for me from China twenty years ago. To ensure that you are determined of what you are doing, burn it and convince me." Father stunned everyone with disbelief by burning the talisman. However, this made my mother extremely furious with both my father and me. In a rage, she condemned, "How do you know if there is a heaven when you have not yet been there? Surely hell is the place one ultimately goes to after death. You are a troublemaker and you better leave the house now !" My mother had made light of God's salvation in her remark. It was as though the evil influences had hovered in the house and I felt helpless towards my father's pleas. I left the house with his cries, " God help! God help! ..... " still ringing in my ears. I did not visit my father after the incident. Whenever I thought of him, so vulnerable and deprived, I was angry at my family. My husband and I would go near my father's house and pray earnestly for him at some evenings. Two weeks later, my sister called to tell me that father was critically ill. She urged me to go home to see him immediately. On his bed, father was still conscious of my presence. He was very ill, yet he carefully concealed his grief and sorrow. Seeing him in that situation, my heart ached and I cried uncontrollably over his sufferings and persecutions. As we held hands together, I could sense his need to leave the house and away from the evils' clutches and cruelties. When he again made hand-signs to me to bring him out of the house, I obeyed. By God's will, I was able to send him to the hospital and he was also baptised. Two days later, he was called home by the Lord.
After father left us, there was no peace in my family. Fear and guilt spurred them to consult the Chinese medium about performing a ritual for the dead. However the idea was dropped after the Chinese medium told them that the dead is now in heaven. Though it is beyond human ability to understand about the vast universe and spiritual realm created by God, indirectly, the Chinese medium had already
answered to my mother's remark about the existence of heaven. 2 Timothy 4:18 says :
Did the Lord restore the differences between me and my family ? God wanted me to reconcile with my family. After the unpleasant encounter, my mum intended to sever ties with me and didn't want to keep touch with me anymore. My mother had also renounced our relationship and patching up seem far-fetched and impossible. During that period, I was miserable and lonely at the thought that I had lost their trust and support forever. Adversely, it was the Lord who strengthened my faith and endurance and had taught me the value of forgiveness. One evening, when I was again praying for my family, I broke into tears to the Lord. I was sad to have been abandoned. Hurts and unfairness weakened me completely. I could no longer conceal the pride that was battling in me for so long. I wanted to reconcile and gain understanding from my family, especially from my mother. I was crying and crying ceaselessly. At the moment of depression, deep in me I was very conscious of a voice telling me, "Go back to your mother's house ! Go back to your mother's house ! The love of God will break the curse." Was it an illusion or was it I who longed to go back to my mother's house again ? Did not God speak to me and had comforted me a while ago ? Yet I could not stop worrying for my family because of the last sentence of God's speaking. Plagued by doubts, I took courage to call home but I was not able to speak to my mother. Though I was assured that they were all well but I was still troubled and doubtful. I tried to call again the next day and this time my doubt was confirmed. My sister told me that mother was hospitalized for a minor operation did not wish that I know about it. After I had related to her about the voice I heard, she did not stop me from visiting mother.
The next morning, I hurried to the hospital. As my steps drew nearer and nearer to her bed, I became more anxious and excited. It was an anticipation that love would heal and restore our broken relationship. It was a time to bury the hatchet and seek reconciliation. At her bed, as soon
as her eyes caught mine, her tears started rolling. Joy and forgiveness filled both our hearts and our tears healed all differences between us, resolved all the months of broken relationship. A week later, my mother recovered and was discharged from hospital. Until now, I am very grateful
to the Lord for His mercies and forgiveness for my family.
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Thank you for sharing by Lindee, 11/06/99
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