THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE

Yesterday, 35 years ago, was the greatest day of my life since I was born and still is today. Let me tell you why.?

It all began in high school when I first met a group of individuals I thought were outlandish, weak, and exclusive. On the other hand, I loved life, and it was a pleasure; smoking, drinking, ladies, and partying was my passion!?

After finishing high school, my parents sent me to India for my higher education. Imagine a teenager with a passion for worldly pleasure away from home, living with other like-minded guys in a rented house, having his bank account, and determining what to do whenever he wanted to do it. This was bliss on steroids!?

Immediately I stepped onto that foreign land; it was all systems go. I had arrived, pursuing a university degree under my terms. Before long, I was engaging deeply in worldly pleasures and passions. Life seemed great, so I thought.

While indulging in this lifestyle with a big spoon, my fellow countrymen and I were invited to an English-speaking church pastored by an American missionary. The church was warm and welcoming, especially after the service when some attractive young ladies served us coffee and snacks.?We could be partying on Saturday nights but ensure we were in church the next day. The highlight of the service was speaking to the ladies as they served us coffee and snacks.?

As I sat in the service, God began to reason with me as I began to reflect on my life over the past couple of months. As much as I had enjoyed the fullness of worldly pleasure like never before, I felt empty and dissatisfied! My life too was getting worse, not better, as I indulged in these pleasures.?

God opened my eyes to realize that without Christ, I was a sinner in need of a Saviour and that without Christ, I was condemned to eternal death. I was heavily laden with a load of my sins and tired of trying to satisfy the insatiable desire within me. Without Christ, my life was hollow and unfulfilled, and no amount of pleasure or education would fill the void inside me. Only Christ would make me whole.?

God poured His love, faith, and grace upon me that drew me to the cross of Jesus Christ. I looked at myself and felt I couldn't measure up to His high standard of living a clean life. I was reluctant to forsake my life of freedom and pleasures.?I was also scared of what my drinking buddies would say if I surrendered my life to Christ; I could see them laughing at me, rejecting me, and betting with each other on how I would survive as a saved. I was terrified of the thought of failing to stay in Christ.?

These thoughts held me back from deciding to follow Christ. Over time I knew following Christ was the right thing to do, but these fears slowed me down. However, God gently and patiently showed me that I was a sinner who needed a Saviour and Deliverer. He made me realize two things:?

1. That on the day of judgment, I'd stand before God and give an account of my life to Him and that my friends would neither be there nor defend me. Thus, I needed to decide regardless of what my friends thought or said.

2. As to whether or not I would backslide, God assured me that as long as I held onto Him, desired to live for Him, and allowed Him to work His will in and through my life, He would keep me in Himself.?

I overcame my fears and stepped forward in church with these two truths before others decided to follow Jesus. It was on 18th January 1987.?

In a couple of weeks, a few of my friends got saved. And what I feared most happened, my friends laughed at me and rejected me for following Jesus. It was hard; however, God saved one of my roommates, Barnabas Achoki, two or so weeks later. Barnabas and other fellow students had been watching me and waiting to see who would get saved first and then follow suit.?

A few months later, when we were in our second year of college, we were joined by some first years who were mature believers from Kenya. We formed a solid Christian fellowship for international students, and our faith was established in Christ.?

Yesterday, 35 years ago, was the GREATEST day of my life because I was adopted into the family of my Heavenly Father. Since then, I have experienced life in Christ that has been the most fulfilled, joyous, and peaceful life I could never have imagined!