Light and Life

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12, NIV.

Hajan* grew up hearing stories of the cruel historical atrocities of the Crusades. He saw the cross as just another form of idolatry. In his early twenties, he joined the rebel army and was assigned to work on a major road check point. His admitted ambition was to kill a Christian.

When a favorite uncle became a follower of Jesus, Hajan felt conflicted. He listened to the gospel and studied stories from the Bible, but he could not believe. At the same time he couldn’t dismiss the changes he saw in his uncle’s life. How could this be true when it conflicted with everything he had held to be true all his life?

One night he lay in bed, unable to sleep. The walls were very thin, and he could hear many conversations going on around him. All of the sudden, pitch black darkness fell all around him. Then, a bright light shown down upon him, and he felt as if he were floating. In fear, he cried out the name of Jesus. Immediately peace swept over him.

God had his attention, but he was still not ready to make a decision. Hajan had experienced Jesus as light, but it took a brush with death to discover that He was also the giver of life.

His mother was involved in a serious auto accident. She was riding on the side car of a public transport motorcycle and was broadsided. After being rushed to the hospital, the doctors discovered that she had serious chest trauma. When Hajan arrived the doctors took him aside and told him that his mom’s chances of survival were slight.

While she was being x-rayed, Hajan prayed in desperation to Jesus for healing. As he was praying, his mom came walking out of the x-ray room completely healed! The doctors could not explain it, and Hajan could no longer dismiss Jesus. He knew how his mom’s life had been restored, and he bowed to Jesus as Lord!

Pray that:

God will draw many people to Himself through Hajan’s testimony of healing.

Hajan will become a spiritual leader in a rapidly growing and multiplying church among his people group.

Jesus will reveal himself as Light and Life to the multitudes living in spiritual darkness in the Pacific Rim.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.