My teacher shared the Gospel with me and I believed.

If looked upon my past, you'd realize that I hated Christians and I hated Jesus. I found Christians very annoying and I said they have two faces. 

But that day, as my teacher came to me, he shared the Gospel with me and I believed. My eyes opened and I knew that Jesus is the Son of God, in Him, there's salvation. 

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. — Acts 4:12, KJV.

I was thirteen at that time. When people—mostly my friends and social media followers—learned that I had begun to believe in Jesus, they considered me naive. For I was a child who received the good tidings preached unto me, they thought someone brainwashed me but I knew Jesus is real. 

Through this I learned why did Jesus say, At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. — Matthew 11:25, KJV.

Now I see I was really blessed to believe in Jesus when I was a kid. People may think they are wise and kids are naive but kids are also humble, aren't they?

No, I'm not complimenting myself! But focus on what I'm actually trying to say.

When the disciples rebuked the children, not letting them come to Jesus, Jesus himself rebuked them and said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven — Matthew 19:14, KJV.

I don't know what the disciples were thinking when the kids came to Jesus and Jesus held them close in his arms, but I was jealous of them. Um… anyway, look at those children! Jesus let them come unto him so they might receive his blessings because Jesus knew they were humble and would receive the kingdom of heaven innocently, knowing that they would find God there. 

I ask, what was in your mind when you believed in Jesus?—For me, it was, I thought God would help me gain good marks because He is real. 

But these kids! They came running into Jesus to receive His love, His fellowship, Him!

They knew He was a prophet, one like they read about in the Old Testament, right? And what could be in their minds when they heard Jesus preaching?—that they could meet the Father in heaven. How innocent and blessed are those who believed in Jesus so they could love Him and meet Him in heaven!

Isn't this the reason why Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Don't underestimate a child. Love them, treat them gently just like Jesus did, and if possible for you, learn humility from them.

But I didn't care about what others said about my faith. It was okay to me if they called me naive. If naivety could make me see who real God is, I call this naivety a blessed thing.

In the beginning as I believed, I desired to read the Word of God. My teacher gave me the New Testament. It was a small black covered Bible and I used to read it every four in the morning, because it was the only time when my parents couldn't see me. Yes, because they were Hindu, I had to hide my Bible from them. However, it was fun, reading the Bible at dawn and thinking about what I studied in the morning for the rest of the day. Actually, it was thrilling, too.

Through the Bible, I learned why Jesus was crucified. Or else, in my hatred, I used to say, “Maybe he made a terrible mistake.” Well, it was I who was terribly mistaken. 

Jesus was crucified for us. If the Father wouldn't have loved us so truly and faithfully, He wouldn't have sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins.

I was a kiddo at that time. I was unaware of my mistakes. I labeled them as little mistakes. But now when I think of all the nasty ways I sinned, I see how good and faithful Jesus was to die for my sins. Who can love you so selflessly?

My teacher also gave me the Old Testament so that I could study about the living God from the beginning.

I used to read that Book with a lot of excitement and passion. I couldn't find the Book boring. To me, it was wow. 

People find it strange when I tell them that I talk to books. Every book that I read, I talk to it. My sisters have seen me being this weird while reading the Bible or any other book and they pointed it out. So the way I used to read the Bible. I used to talk to this Book. 

Once my father was checking our bags and he found the Old Testament there. At that time, I used to hide my Bibles in my school bag. 

So, of course, he was pissed off. He wanted to throw it out but I stood firmly and let him not do it. He said, “We are Hindu. You may read this Book for once but then, I don't want to see it here. Return it to your teacher.” I nodded my head but did nothing like that. The Bible is still with me. 

Another terrible thing that happened in our house was when my sister was reading the Bible and forgot to put it inside her bag. My father found it out and put it where we arranged our shoes. My sister also got it back when he was out but it hurt us when we found the Bible in our shoe rack. 

We know how precious this book is! But my father doesn't. I pray that by the time I finish with this book, the Lord will open my parent's eyes and they will see and believe that Jesus is the Lord.

My life was passing like this. I read the Bible and believed in Jesus. My sisters also believed in Jesus and so did my brother. We prayed and read the Bible, but only when our parents weren't around. I never went to a church or learned from pastors about the Word. I read and believed things written in the Bible. Especially, from the hill sermon written in the Gospel of Matthew. However, I was missing many things. I needed to study the Word deeply.

I had a friend who later revealed to me that she was a Christian, and she hid the fact from me, seeing that I hated Christians. She thought I wouldn't be friends with her if I learned about her belief in Jesus. But here, I must let my readers know this thing; if you believe in Jesus, don't hide it. 

It shouldn't matter to you what others might think. It literally shouldn't matter to you. Those who are worthy to stand by your side will stay there, no matter what. You can't keep people to yourselves. Only those that love you truly will stay. Others will walk away. Let people know what you are in reality, let them learn about your flaws and see if they can love you like that. If they can love you with your flaws and the truth you have, you too would try to become a better version of yourself, no?

What's good if people love you when you shine? But let them see your darkness and flaws, and say, “Yes, I'll love you even then!” Truly, that kind of love will inspire you to leave your darkness and walk in light and the truth. 

I never met a person who could love me with my flaws. It was only Jesus and this thing about Jesus inspired me to become better. Yes, only for him I made efforts. And I tell you, in your life, too, only Jesus can be the person. 

Sometimes I wonder what people find in friends and the vain pleasures of the world that they can't find in Jesus.

There are countless reasons to make you believe that you should love Jesus, yet one is enough to make you love Him, that He gave His life for you. Tell me, is it less?

I have learned by mistakes but I have learned well that only Jesus can stay by your side till the end of time.

People come and go. Jesus stays.

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. — Matthew 10:32-33, KJV. 

To live this boldly, you need love. The love of God should keep growing perfect in your hearts along with the knowledge of Christ, so that this fear may be cast out of your hearts and you confess that Jesus is your Lord in front of men.

Many such things I learned from the Bible. As I read Matthew, there Jesus gave his ‘Hill Sermon’ which I liked a lot. He said things which sounded too good to be true and I wondered if any man could do them.

But I tried them anyhow and there, I learned how peaceful it felt to obey God and do what the Bible had said.

There I read something that made me marvel at it, But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. — Matthew 5:39, KJV. This verse I read reminded me of a time when my friend once invited me to her church. I couldn't say no to her so I went to her church and heard the pastor preach the gospel once again. 

I sat there, bored and pissed off, as he talked about Jesus. Then he talked about a pastor who went to some place to preach the gospel and he shared the same verse. There the man shared the same verse, But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. — Matthew 5:39-40, KJV. So, there was a man in his meeting who made fun of that verse because he was a heathen. He also insulted the pastor and dared him to react the same way if he got slapped. That man slapped that pastor and insulted him and took off his pants. But the pastor remained silent.

He was, of course, embarrassed. He went home and surely wondered if this is how people were going to treat him but according to the Bible, he did it right when he said nothing. And the next moment, he heard a knock on the door. He went to open the door and saw a multitude of people outside his house, and came there to hear the message again because they believed in the Gospel! Praise God! Among them was also the man who insulted that preacher. God changed their minds and wow!—blessed be the name of the Lord!

At that time, as I heard the story, I went home and literally scoffed. So the way I behaved in my friend's church. I said, “Oh, really? It isn't possible! No man in the world can be this tolerant. Aren't these Christians lying? I know they only lie about such things!”

But as I read the Bible after believing in Jesus, I remembered this incident and was sorry that I did not believe the story. 

However, I was really surprised to realize that this is the way a Christian was ought to live and some even do it because they love the Lord. I was scared as well as surprised. I was wondering how it could be possible, but every time, I prayed about it. 

I wanted to change my way of life and wanted to live the way Jesus said in the Bible. It was really hard for me but still, I wanted to follow Him. I was willing to do it, not worrying about the price I had to pay. Actually, I only wanted to live a normal life where I'd follow the Lord's commandments. I never intended to think further than this.

The Word also said, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matthew 6:24-26, KJV.