Testimonies

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I am Angela Sharon. By looking at my name people conclude automatically that I am a Christian. But do I carry the name of Christ just because I was born and brought up in a Christian family? Maybe. But that’s not the only reason why I am a Christian. I don’t follow Christianity just coz I was born into it. I am a Christian not only by chance but also by choice.
I was brought up in Saudi Arabia by two wonderful individuals. I never got a chance to visit church, or anything even close to it, except for the times I came for vacations to India. My parents too never forced me to pray or follow any traditions or anything as such. I was just told about a wonderful friend by my parents. My Mom and Dad told me that he would give me anything and everything I would ask for and would always be there for me no matter what. I was surprised and dint believe them at first coz I thought that someone like that couldn’t exist. Because everyone I met were selfish and mean. Nobody was perfect. But my Mom and Dad were right – this person they told me about would hear all my complaints and take care of me even in the most difficult situations. He cared even about the little things which everyone else thought was trivial. I would find my lost books just by saying a small prayer. The bell would ring just when it was my chance to recite the poem I dint learn for. I would fall down from stairs and still I wouldn’t even get a scratch. I would get lost in the big school of mine and someone would find me in no time. See I told you, even the things that were little but important to me, were important to my friend too. And I began to love this friend of mine and trust in him even more. Then Christmas came and my parents told me that this was the day my friend was born on. I was like “Okay cool, let’s celebrate.” And that’s exactly what we did every year. Find our gifts under the Christmas tree, bake a yummy cake, say a family prayer and thank God for sending this wonderful friend into the world, invite friends and have a blast. Then on Easter I got to learn that this friend of mine died for my sins. I dint understand the seriousness of it that time. I dint even think about it much. But I remember watching on TV that my friend was being nailed to the cross and was in great pain and was being mocked by everyone. Well, I really loved him and I couldn’t see him in such a state. I started crying and cursing all the people who were doing this to him. I dint realise at that point of time that he died for me and for my sins. I was so naïve. Well that’s how I lived my life. Praying to my friend every day and whenever I wanted anything in particular. Going to him and complaining about all the mean people in my life. And he was always there. I could confide in him and he would never judge me. He had all my secrets, even the ones I was ashamed of sharing with my closest friend. As the years passed by I got confidence, strength and joy. I was able to conquer every milestone easily and I got through difficult situations stronger and wiser than before. It wasn’t because I was smart or anything but this friend of mine made me believe that I could achieve anything by him on my side. I got 100 in science in all the semesters after failing every test and being thought as useless by my teacher, I won competitions in things I dint even think I was good at, people who thought I was good for nothing realised my actual worth subsequently, and the list is too long. I got everything I wanted even though it seemed to be impossible for a person like me to achieve it. I never asked my friend if he wanted anything in return for what he did for me and even he was content with just my thanks.

I was leading a very happy and a comfortable life. Then in 10th I happened to attend a meeting in Saudi Arabia. You might be surprised but yes, even in a place so strict, my friend was glorified and talked about coz that’s how awesome he is. This meeting changed my life to a huge extent. I got to know so many things about my friend that I dint even bother to find out before. I got to know that he was a very important person and that there is no one like him. He was the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and that he would never change. I was surprised and happy at the same time that such a great person would consider me as his daughter and give me the privilege of calling him father and friend. I learnt that no one could ever love me as much as he did and coz of his love for me he died a painful death so that I could live a peaceful life. I decided to surrender my life to him and let him handle all the issues for me as I accepted him as my father and Saviour and knew that he would only do the best for me. I had no doubts at all coz I knew him very well from my childhood. But I wanted to know him more. I got to learn that my father was no doubt compassionate but he was also strict when he had to be. He was protective, caring and understanding. These are just a few adjectives that I am using to describe him but he is just indescribable. He is just perfect and he knows how to balance everything. I learned that whatever happened was all for my good coz it was him whom I trusted in. I started to have the most beautiful relationship with him that I could never have with anyone else ever. He taught me so many things that I couldn’t even imagine. I was under his care and protection and I loved to be there. Then it was time for me to come to India and continue with my further studies. It was a completely new thing for me to stay away from my parents. I was excited and apprehensive at the same time. But my father had already taken care of everything. He gave me wonderful relatives who thought the world of me and took care of me in the best way possible. I got good friends and my father saved me from all the bad ones. I still wasn’t doing anything in return for him. I would just make sure that I thanked him every day and spent a little time with him. Yet he never complained. That’s how selfless and patient he is. Then I had to take one of the most difficult decisions of my life. What to do after Inter? I had absolutely no idea. I wanted to do everything. I wanted to Mass Communication, BA in Literature, Engineering from BITS, Psychology and CA. I was so confused. But then my father guided me to do CA. I confided all my fears to my father. I said “What? CA and me. Is it even possible? I am not that great with studies and I don’t think I would be able to do it. How am I going to study so much and it’s so difficult.” Many people around me too thought the same. They were like “are you sure you would be able to do it? It’s not a joke you know. You have to study for like hours together.” And honestly that thought itself scared me. But as always my father was there to tell me that it wasn’t impossible for me to do it with him by my side and that he would take care of everything and all I had to do was put in a little effort. I got my confidence and I decided I would do CA , no matter what just coz my father was there. Isn’t it amazing to have someone through whom you can do anything you want in life without having a second thought?
Entering CA was a wonderful experience. I got “Posh” friends. I got a chance to try different things in life. And I was excited and wanted to do anything and everything. I was young and I thought this was the perfect time to make all the possible mistakes like bunking, enjoying with friends etc. Without realising, I drifted away from my father coz I was so fascinated with all the things this world had to offer and I thought that all that would make me happy. But very soon I realised that I was wrong. I got tired of experimenting and just wanted to go back to my father. I was tired of being so care-free and ignorant. I was sorry for taking my father’s love for granted. I was scared to go back coz I dint know what to tell him. I had been so selfish and had failed someone who always took care of me in the most wonderful way possibe. I was guilty and ashamed of myself. But I decided to go back coz I couldn’t go on any longer alone. I decided to look for him and to my surprise he had never left my side and had his eye on me all the time. I was just too busy to notice it. But he loved me so much that he dint let me be on my own for my own safety. After all, I was the apple of his eye. I realised that his love for me was unconditional and nothing in this world could ever change that. He might rebuke me and test me sometimes but that’s just coz he is a perfect father who wants his children to appreciate everything and not just take everything in life for granted. I was so happy to be back and the best part was he accepted me and dint even say “I told you so”. This made me realise how important he was for me. I started getting to know him more and more and the more I got to know him the more I was in awe of him. I realised that even though I wasn’t worthy, he still took care of me like I meant the world to him. Even though I failed him every now and then his mercies were new every morning. He never failed and never broke his promises. Even though I forgot to thank him or talk to him sometimes, he never complained. He always had time for me even though he had so many other things to take care of. He never lost hope in me. I still cant imagine why he would even care for a person like me. It’ll always remain a mystery for me. That’s why he is amazingly wonderful and there are no words to describe him. And then I cleared my cpt and ipcc also. And the best part was I dint even have to work that hard just as my father had promised. He took care of everything. Don’t believe me? Well, I enjoyed for a week almost before my CPT exam coz my brother had come from Muscat. And then I got eye infection two days before the exam. Yes I cleared that exam. I attended my brother’s marriage before my IPCC group-1 exam and I went to Goa just a week before my exams started (yes, you heard that right, I really went to Goa), and I saw Ashiqui 2 before my group 2 exams. Everyone were 100% sure that I would flunk, even my parents. But I told you my father never fails. This is why I owe everything to him. Through him I achieved things in life that I was scared of even trying. Whatever I am today is all his grace. I call it grace coz I don’t think I even deserve it. He has given me more than I have asked for and more than I actually deserved.
Yes, you guessed it right. This friend of mine is Jesus Christ. This father of mine is God himself and I have the privilege of calling HIM my father. Unbelievable right? That God who is the creator of all and who has to take care of so many things in this world would even think about someone as insignificant as me. But he does think and he does care, even about the smallest thing. I might forget what I asked him for, but he never forgets. He makes even the most impossible wishes come true. He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call. He is my creator and my deliverer. He is my Protector and my strength. He is my Best Friend and my Saviour.
So why should I follow anyone or anything else when I have found all my answers in one person? Why should I believe that Christ’s death is just a myth when the day he sacrificed his life for me changed my past, present and future forever? Why should I trust in anything or anyone else when it was Christ who never left my side even before I was born? Why should I ask anything from any other God or go into their temples when my God provides all my needs according to his riches and glory? (Mind you- the God I serve is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords so when HE gives, its in abundance). Why shouldn’t I believe in the words spoken by God through the BIBLE when he is the only person who never lied to me? Why should I consult an astrologer for my future when I already know that my Father has plans to prosper and not to harm me but give me a future and hope? Why shouldn’t I believe that my God exists when he is the only person I can feel the closest to me inspite of him being in the heavens? Why shouldn’t I depend on him and cast my cares on him when he hasn’t failed me even once in my life. Why should I believe that going to church is old-fashioned and unnecessary when that’s the place where I can praise and glorify my God for what he has done and find true joy in doing so and when it’s the only place that tells me about the person my entire life is dependent on? Why shouldn’t I believe that God exists when he is the only real thing in this fake world?


Now, I am going to answer the question that is the topic of this huge narration. Is Christianity just another religion? For me- NO but for many – YES. For me No because it is my way of life and my reason to live. It gave me the opportunity to know the most beautiful person that ever existed on this earth. It gave me everything that I ever wanted and would ever want. It moulded me in to the person that I am today. It taught me and gave me things about which if I start writing now, this would never end. It gave me peace and hope for a better tomorrow. But for many it is just another religion coz they think Christianity is just about following the usual rituals and traditions and that going to church once in a while is enough. But no, it’s more than that. You just need to be ready to know about it. And I’ll bet you anything that once you get to truly know Christ, you won’t regret it. Coz you will have the most beautiful experience ever and your journey in this world would become a beautiful one. And you know how much you need that in this world which is full of horrifying and heart-breaking incidents happening every day. Many of us try to live a Christian life by keeping Christ out of it. But we don’t realise that Christ is the foundation and without him we will be left with a life as meaningless as the word “ianity” if Christ is removed from it. Don’t you want someone who would protect you and take care of you? Someone who could give you peace and joy even when things are going upside down? Someone who is always there when everyone else is leaving you? I’m sure all of us need that someone. And that someone is Jesus. Don’t run after temporary or man-made things when there is the real, permanent and simple truth in front of you. Get to know it before it’s too late.

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