From Buddist to Christian

My name is Michiko. I was born in Japan, and I didn’t grow up with a nice and wonderful family as many people do.

We never ate as a whole family. I lived with my grandparents, my parents, my two sisters and my brother.  Back then Japanese families lived with their parents after they married and took care of them.

Usually the first born boy had to take care of the parents, but my mother’s older brother ran away from his father (my grandfather), so my mother had to live with her parents and take care of them. When a woman is married with a man, the woman moves out of  the parent’s house and moves into the husband’s house and lives together, but when  my mother got married with my father, and he had to move into her house and take care of her parents. It’s called “Youshi.” My grandfather found my father for my mother. As a man in Japan the “Youshi” situation is a disgrace and is shameful. I used to see my grandfather nagging about my father’s mistakes, complaining about how useless he was. Anything my father did didn’t pleased him. I hated to see my grandfather give him such a hard time. I loved my father. He was a sweet and wonderful man. I could not forgive anybody who tried to harm him and abuse him.Not only he was bad to my father, he was also bad to my mother and my whole family.  I started to hate my grandfather. I used to wish he would disappear so that he wouldn’t hurt us anymore.

When I was 12 years old, my grandfather passed away. I had a strange feeling that was hard to describe. One part of me was happy and the other part of me was sad. My own grandfather died. Was I supposed to be sad? Why am I not sad? What kind of human being am I? I had a struggle with my two feelings.

I started seek the answer in Buddhism, which my mother was really into. She was a very enthusiastic Buddhist. I did some Buddhism chanting and I prayed in front of my ancestors. I read the Buddhism chanting book. Sometimes I even poured cold water on my body in the cold winter.  The more sought the answer in Buddhism, the more I felt empty.  

I used to wake up early and listen to English conversation programs on the radio. They had a Christian program before they would start the program. I never heard that kind of message before and I started to get into the messages. I started going to church. Everything was new to me and very fascinating.

One day I heard a message from pastor saying that I was a sinner and the one who judges others, sins.  I did not get it. Why did the pastor call me a “sinner”? I don’t deserve to be called a “sinner”. I’ve done nothing, I’m a good girl. God started to show me with my grandfather. I used to blame him for the situation that I was in, and I felt like the victim of the situation.  I realized that I was a sinner. I didn’t feel free and I felt like I had a heavy stone in my heart.

I found a book that explained the difference between human’s love and God’s love. I found that we human beings don’t have real love. That’s why we have so many problems. The Bible claims that we are all sinners no matter who you are and our sin separates us from God, our creator. God’s love is unconditional. God loves us the way we are. He doesn’t care if we are rich or poor, smart or stupid, ugly or beautiful. He doesn’t care how many problems we have. God loves us so much that he sent his only son Jesus Christ as our savior to this earth. We deserve to be punished for a lot of things that we have done, but God punished his only Son Jesus instead of us. The book said to admit you are sinner by simply saying sorry for what you have done in your life and by praying with your own mouth. Jesus will therefore forgive you of your sins and you will be set free. I prayed, “Jesus, I’m a sinner and I did a lots of bad things. Please forgive my sin and come to my heart and live within me.” Right after I prayed, I felt God’s love pouring into my heart. I had never experienced anything like that before. God took the heavy stone out of me. I felt so happy and free. God gave me a peace that I never had before. God gave me the love and joy that I could have never gotten with anything else.

You might have heard about Jesus. You might go to church. But do you know Jesus in person? Church itself cannot save you. Religion cannot save you. Even if you help people and do good things, your performance cannot save you.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the father, but through me.” (John 14:6 )

Only Jesus can set you free and save you. Not only that, but Jesus will give you eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)

Jesus is knocking at your door today. Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. Just simply open your door and invite Jesus into your heart.

The Bible says “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.” (Revelations 3:18)

Here’s how to pray:

Dear God, I come to you now. I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe Christ died for me and rose from his grave. Right now, I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior. Thank you for your forgiveness of my sins and for the Gift of eternal life. Amen.

That's not it!

If you accept Jesus Christ as your savior, it is just beginning of your new life. You need to build a strong faith by reading the Bible and praying, as well as also going to church and worshiping God until you die. There are so many hidden treasures in the Bible.
The word of God is the only power to make your faith strong and transform your life. God wants us to live in the word of God.
If you don't read the Bible, how do you know what God want you to do?
 Even if you get saved and become a christian, that doesn't mean you are free from your problems. We need to realize there is an enemy.  That enemy is the power of darkness who tries to destroy you and tries to take you to hell with him. He is evil and is very powerful.  But thanks to Jesus, our enemy is already defeated! You just need to tell the devil, " you are already defeated.
Go away, in Jesus name!" He will flee from you.

Jesus said,"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you
can do nothing. John 15:5     God wants us to have a fruitful life. This is only possible if you remain in Him.