What is Life?
The philosopher C. S. Lewis said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” Jesus wants to change us, to make our nature like His. He works closely with us to change our lives.
Like the story of a toy made of tin getting life, we receive a new life through Jesus. But some obstacle in our life can block this transformation. That obstacle is the “tin” in our life which has not changed yet.
This statement should make us think deeply. What is the meaning of C. S. Lewis’s words? When we believe in Jesus, He won’t take us to a corner, put us there, say goodbye and walk away. He will never do that—ever. When the Son of God comes to our life, He enters into our heart and soul. He stays within us in every moment of our life and until death He holds our hand and walks beside us.
Let me illustrate with an example: there was a man who lived a carefree life for 35 years. There was not a single person in his village known to be his friend. Everyone disliked him. As a drunkard, he spent all his time fighting with others. His mother often thought about him, cried and lost her health.
At this time, the man happened to hear the Gospel, accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and surrender himself completely to Him. His life was transformed like a sunrise changes utter darkness.
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He went to all the houses in his village for the next one and half weeks. Why? Not to take revenge, but to meet each neighbor personally and apologize for his past mistakes. He mother came along with him to some houses. With deep regret in his heart and tears in his eyes he asked each one for forgiveness. “For that time when I committed a mistake, please forgive me. For the bad words I used, please forgive me. I did things which I should not have done, forgive me.”
How could such a change happen in a person’s life? When Jesus Christ entered his life, his behavior and nature completely changed.
I know another man, who is from Niranam, Kerala. Fifteen years earlier, had had stolen from the factory where he worked. But when he accepted Jesus Christ in his life he returned the expensive thing which he had stolen. Practical people advised him, “Don’t be foolish, they will send you to jail.” But the man said, “I have to do this even if I have to spend my entire life in prison. Now I belong to Jesus; He expects this.”
In the New Testament we read about a person named Zacchaeus. He illegally collected taxes from the Jews on behalf of the government of Rome. But what happened to him when he met Jesus Christ? He decided to return all his wealth which he took illegally from others.
These are just a few stories. Yet not one or two, but many people’s lives have been transformed by Jesus Christ. They are changing to become like Him. The Lord Jesus Christ transforms lives. Being like Jesus does not mean changing only some things in life, instead it means changing every part of life. Especially in our attitude and behavior towards others we have to be changed.
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K.P. Yohannan ( - Present)
Dr. K.P. Yohannan, the Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church, was born and brought up in Niranam, Kerala. Niranam has immense historical significance in the tradition of Saint Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ who planted the first church there in AD 52. K.P. Yohannan dedicated his life to God at a young age to serve the needy and downtrodden. He prayed, “Oh my Lord, let my heart break with the things that break Your heart” and his life was never the same. It’s his belief that one can only demonstrate God’s love by loving people. After over four decades of selfless service, he says, I have no regrets in praying that prayer for I know God has touched millions through what He did in and through me. It is all God’s grace.He spent the early years of his service in North India and traveled to the remote villages sharing the love of Christ and doing charitable works. Through numerous encounters during those years, he was instilled with an increasing passion to bring hope, peace, and comfort to the needy and deprived. His sacrificial commitment, farsightedness and aptitude to perceive helped him to lead a life of unhindered devotion to serve Christ and His church. K.P. Yohannan is also the voice of Athmeeya Yathra, touching millions through his daily radio and TV broadcasts. His 250 books offer practical and spiritual guidance on hundreds of subjects.
Recommends these books by K.P. Yohannan:
Living in the Light of Eternity: Discovering God's Design For Your Life by K.P. Yohannan
The Beauty of Christ through Brokenness by K.P. Yohannan
Crisis in Leadership by K.P. Yohannan
K.P. Yohannan is the founder and president of Gospel for Asia, a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in the unreached regions of Asia. Currently Gospel for Asia supports thousands of church planters in the heart of the 10/40 window.
Born in a remote village of South India, K.P. Yohannan's personal journey toward spiritual reality began at the age of eight when he gave his heart to Christ. While he was still a young boy, his mother began fasting each week, praying God would call one of her six sons into full-time gospel ministry. Her prayers were answered in 1966 when 16 year-old K.P., her youngest, volunteered to serve in North India with Operation Mobilization.
From 1974 to 1979 K.P. attended Criswell Bible College in Dallas, Texas, where he earned his B.A. in Biblical Studies. He was also awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Hindustan Bible College in Madras, India. During the time he attended Criswell, he pastored a local church in Dallas. However, he was unable to forget the millions still lost without Christ in his homeland of India, and knew God was calling him to reach his own people. In 1978 K.P. resigned his pastorate and he and his wife, Gisela, organized what is now Gospel for Asia.