When I got home, I confronted Preethy and Anu and told them I could not accept their Jesus as Lord. Immediately Preethy's voice changed and she said something like, "He who was sinless took upon himself your sins." At least, that was all I heard when I felt something powerful go through me. Suddenly, I was gently pushed back into my chair, my arms flung wide open, my eyes shut and I saw a cross in front of me!

Preethy had quoted 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Those words hit me like thunder and reverberated deep into me as my eyes looked upon the cross that was in front of me. It was as if a veil had been lifted from the eyes of my heart and I instantly knew then that Jesus had died and risen for me. My heart melted when I felt the pain he felt, not because of His own physical sufferings, but because of my unbelief in Him and my hard-hearted stubbornness in resisting His hand that was reaching out to me. I could do nothing but surrender to His love. I gave up struggling and just believed in Jesus. I then felt a hand reach into my heart and tear something dark and burdensome out, and instantly felt the compassion that Abba Father had for me. For the first time in my life I became aware of my heavenly Father's presence and love through the cross of Jesus. Every cell in my body was convinced that Jesus is indeed God and my risen Lord.

I felt free. I did not have to wait to see if Allah was graceful and merciful enough to overlook my shortcomings and accept my adherence to rules and regulations for me to enter Heaven when I die. My Jesus is already there preparing a mansion for me. I did not have to depend on any rituals, deeds or sacrifices. Jesus had been there and done that. All I had to do was believe in my Father's love for me that put Jesus on the cross to save me from my sins.

When this became real in my heart, I made a decision then and there to give my life to Jesus. I did not know how or what was involved in being his disciple, but I knew that I did not want to be anywhere else and with anyone else. I also knew that I did not want to merely switch from one set of religious rituals and traditions in Islam to another in the any Christian church.

My search is finally over. I have found true peace. Since then up to the time I write this now in 2004, I have been serving Him wholeheartedly. Each day has been better than the previous. He has indeed taken me from strength to strength and from glory to glory.