Raju - Part 1

Raju's brother and the other firewalkers leave the temple. Raju watches as they place their feet on the glowing charcoal. Without burning themselves, they walk across the hot coals.

"I'm going to join in next year too," Raju calls out enthusiastically to his friend Samuela. "Why can they do that?" Samuela wants to know.

"The power of a god has taken possession of them. My brother stayed with the priest in the temple for a whole week to prepare for the fire walk."

Hindu firewalkers have supernatural powers. These powers are dangerous. They do not come from the one true and living God.

In the evening, relatives and friends come to Raju's family. They talk about a Christian missionary who watched the firewalking. ‘'It would have been better if he hadn't come,’’ says Raju's father.

The next day, Raju's friend comes running up excitedly. "Next week there's a children's week here with songs and stories. I'm going. Are you coming with me?"
"Maybe." says Raju. He thinks: "First I want to know if this has anything to do with the Christian missionary."

Samuela visits the children's week and informs Raju about what he has heard: Christians believe that God lives in a beautiful place called heaven. They say that God's son, Jesus, lived on earth and had to die on a cross for the sins of all people.

When Samuela tells him that the Son of God rose from the dead and returned to heaven, Raju becomes curious. This God must be really powerful!

"Raju, I believe in Jesus. I asked him to take away my sins and become my Saviour," Samuela explained joyfully at the end of children’s week.

A year later, preparations for the firewalkers begin again. Raju joins in. When he leaves the temple, he feels carried by a powerful force. He carefully places one foot on the coals. It works! He feels no heat at all.

"Would you like to walk on hot coals?" Raju asks his friend. Samuela replies, "Not since I started following Jesus. I now know that the power to walk on fire comes from Satan."

Raju wants to get together with Samuela. "I don't have time. I'm going to Sunday school. Come with me!" From then on, Raju goes to Sunday school. He likes the stories from the Bible. But he doesn't tell anyone about it at home.

When Raju's father finds out that his son is attending a Christian Sunday school, he becomes very angry. Raju is no longer allowed to go there. Then Samuela drops something off at his house: a Bible study booklet. His father looks at it and says, "You can take part in that. It will help you improve your English."

Raju reads: "Jesus died and rose again for our sins. Then he went back to heaven. He will take everyone who accepts him as their Saviour to this beautiful place. If you have not yet accepted him, would you like to do so now?"

Raju realises that he needs Jesus to go to heaven. He prays, "Dear Lord Jesus, I have cheated my father and done other bad things. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Come into my heart and be my Saviour. Amen."

Raju happily tells his friend that he now believes in Jesus too. Samuela invites him to go to church with him on Sundays. Raju secretly goes along. Will this turn out well?

To be continued!