For many people the gospel is easily accessible. They can grab it, learn it, and use it to form their characters for the time when they will spend eternity with Christ. For others the gospel is not so accessible. They must search hard to find it. They may suffer for many years in darkness, but when they find the light it is precious to them.

For me the truth was something I found only by the intercession of our Lord and Savior. He saw me in need, and He sent His angels to protect me till I could receive the present truth.

I was raised a Roman Catholic in a land torn by civil war. Sri Lanka, especially its northern part, has been in turmoil for many years. In these last days the hearts of men seem to know only violence and horror. They create divisions amongst themselves and then use these as an excuse to kill and maim each other. My father was killed by a bomb, a victim of those who knew not God.

But even in the horrors of war, life must go on. I grew up to be a cricket player, a very popular sport profession in my country. I went on to win many trophies and awards in my career. But still my life did not seem complete.

A few years ago, all of this changed. I was visiting a friend and we were discussing the Bible. As we were talking, an acquaintance of his, Brother Mariathas, walked in. My friend introduced him and we continued our discussion. My knowledge of the Word of God was very limited, but I tried to ask a few questions from the knowledge that I possessed. Bro. Mariathas was very patient and answered all my questions in a manner that I could understand. After some time, he took his leave.

I was intrigued by our discussion. I had never had the opportunity to discuss the Bible with someone who did not take it as a burden to be followed but rather as a joy to be received. I wanted to learn more, so I got the address of Bro. Maria­thas from my friend.

I decided to go and visit him at his home in another village. I searched the village for his home, and was truly shocked. In my country, the priests live in luxurious palace homes. Yet here was a Bible worker who lived in the most modest of homes. Due to the war he had lost his house and was living in a small house that was thatched with cadjans. As I walked up to the home I saw that he was fixing an old bicycle.

I thought he must be living in sorrow. When he saw me he cordially invited me into his home. Both he and his family were very kind. I told him I wanted to study the Bible more. He accepted my request and whenever I had time I went there and he would study the Bible with me. By studying and by watching the example I saw in the simple life of his family, I slowly grew to accept the message.

As you find a pearl in the sea, I saw the grace of Christ in his simple life. I gradually learned that it is not preaching that is important, but the actions of those who say they are Christians. Very often Bro. Mariathas would speak of Bro. Sas, a man I did not know, from whom he had learned a lot about the Christian faith. He used to say that Christ will be much happier if one who goes to Heaven is in the congregation, than if a thousand were in the congregation but none were saved.

I decided to put an end to my old habits. By the grace of God, I began to purge my body and my character of the things that were harmful to me. I was finally feeling fulfilled. I thought that others would be happy in my behalf, but they were not. Now my real troubles began.

My father, a famous politician and Justice of the Peace, and my mother, a Roman Catholic doctor’s daughter, learned that I was being taught the present truth. They were both firmly opposed to it, and my relatives supported them in opposing me. As he was teaching me, Bro. Mariathas received many death threats.

But we were not afraid of those who could only harm our bodies. This is the great aspect of the Christian faith. We were disgraced from street to street. We were put into danger. False allegations were leveled against us. We were even put into prison. But everywhere we went, victory was on our side. The government and the officials did nothing to us. All these tests happened to strengthen our faith. To observe my first Sabbath day, I went to the home of Bro. Mariathas. But the obstacles were just beginning.

War again broke out and now a new challenge was placed before me. The rebels who controlled the area in which I lived demanded that all able-bodied men, and even women, were to take up arms to help them. Those who did not comply were told that they would be punished. Shortly thereafter, four of the rebels came to my home and told me to come. I told them to meet me at the home of Bro. Mariathas where I would give them my reply. At his home we offered them chairs, and taking the Bible in my hands I asked them a question: “Can you prove that this book is wrong? If you can I will go with you.” They kept silent. I continued: “You are fighting for a kingdom that is perishable, but I am fighting for the kingdom which is imperishable. My weapon is the Holy Bible, your weapon is a rifle. Your weapon is only for a certain duration, but my weapon is beyond duration. My king is Christ, but your king is a man created by Him.” I showed them many examples from the Bible explaining why I could not fight for them. Finally, in exasperation, they told me they did not want to discuss this any further. I thank the Lord for giving me the wisdom to be able to talk with them.

The military actions during the civil war caused a scarcity in food and clothing. Even the basic facilities for human survival were put out of the reach of the people. Most of the population in our area was displaced. Starvation and sickness were widespread. My family fled to the village where my father was born. We built a small hut there for shelter. I was separated from the other members of the church and I yearned for their fellowship. My mother tried to stop this desire by making fun of the poor condition of the believers, but I looked at our small hut and said “If they are poor, what are we?” My mother was silent.

Anxious to meet with the believers, I managed to get to the home of Bro. Mariathas, which was in an area controlled by the Sri Lankan army. The army learned of my presence and six soldiers carried me from the house. They kicked me on the left side and on the right side, and dragged me blindfolded into the jungle. They put a rope around my neck and tried to kill me by hanging. As I was thinking I was about to die, the captain of the group ordered the others to stop.

They lowered me to the ground and he offered me water as they took off the rope. I was surprised at the turn of the events, but the officer explained that he had found a Bible in the pocket of my jacket. Once again the Word of God had saved me! I was escorted back to the house by two soldiers.

When I was originally taken, Bro. Mariathas had not been home. When he returned and learned what had happened he immediately went to the army and showed them the registration papers of our church and the papers confirming that I was the youth secretary of the church. The army refused to accept the papers, and said they did not believe anyone who believed in this God. The officer then said that his god was his rifle. An hour later that same officer came to Bro. Maria­thas’ home to tell him I was to be released, and that he thought this was probably because of the God that we worshiped.

I praise the Lord for the wonderful work He did for me. My life was spared, and others were able to see the example of believers. We were all happy that we were able to celebrate the Sabbath together, even in the midst of the war and the great displacement of our members. We were able to remember the words found in Revelation 14:12. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

After this incident, the war began to wane and my family was able to return to Jaffna. One day my father had to attend the inauguration ceremony for a government official. I went along to witness the ceremony. After the half-hour ceremony was over, I jumped out of my father’s vehicle. When I was four vehicles down from it, I heard a loud bang. As I fell to the ground I turned to see that my father’s vehicle had blown up. A car bomb had killed many officials, including my father. To make matters worse, the army came to the spot and opened fire on the crowd, killing about 100 people and injuring about 100 more. I was devastated by the death of my father, and after his funeral I went down to the capital city of Colombo.

In Colombo I was blessed to meet Bro. Soundrapandian, and later Bro. Sureshkumar. Soon my heart’s desire was to be fulfilled. In the cold waters of Sri Lanka I laid down the man of sin and was baptized. With a newfound zeal for the gospel I went north with Bro. Soundrapandian and his wife. There he was able to hold evangelistic meetings and baptize seven more new souls.

As the days went by I was traveling through the town of Chava­kachcheri when I was stopped by the army. They took me to prison, blindfolded me, and told me that they knew I was a terrorist. I told them I had nothing to do with their war, and that I was a preacher of the Holy Bible. The officer quizzed me on my faith, and seeing that I truly was a Bible worker he released me. With great joy I was able to reach the house of Bro. Mariathas.

A friend of mine, who was paralyzed by the same bomb blast that killed my father, is now receiving Bible studies and wants to know the present truth. His home is where the believers gather in the city of Jaffna. I have decided to devote my life full-time to the Lord as a Bible worker and the Mission secretary for Sri Lanka. But the trials are not yet over. There are many more ahead for the believers in Sri Lanka. My own mother had the police arrest me, but they could do nothing. The Catholic and Protest­ant churches around us are totally surprised by us. They are shocked to learn of a “Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement,” and are even more shocked by our full time devotion to spreading the present truth by word and by example.

Christ has miraculously protected me in preserving my life. Time and again He has shown me that if I trust in Him, He will guide and protect me. Brethren, I pray that you will come closer to Christ. He can give you power to finish the work for our time. If the gospel is easily accessible to you, do not delay to take of the power it will give you. If you live in an area of hardship and trial, it will give you that same power. Continue to pray for us here in Sri Lanka, as we continue to pray for you everywhere in the world.