I had a friend whom I came to know when he was 12 years old named Deepak (meaning 'lamp' in Hindi). His cherubic beauty would impress anyone - the curly hair, his dark eyes, fair complexion and the smile he ever wore, slightly displaying his beautiful teeth. After being in his friendship for about six months, we had to separate. After about a year, when I got the news about him, I was shattered. My friend got an infection due to which the doctors had to amputate one of his toes. Further it spread and his one leg was amputated. But the infection had his other leg too and finally, the doctors had to amputate both his legs. After much treatment and causing much agony to the little boy, death prevailed over him. I could not listen to the account of his slow, pathetic death -- I wonder how his parents could take it everyday.

Well, death of a dear friend leaves a lasting impact on one's life. News of Deepak's death truly left me darkness, true to his name - the lamp was gone. There's another Friend who also died, a more pathetic death, whose life, words and death have left a great influence on my life. He is my Best Friend

My Friend Died for Me

I have read of a story where a soldier who was convicted, but made a request that he should be permitted to meet his family abroad before leaving this world. When denied permission, his friend came forward and accepted to stay imprisoned till the date of his expected return, failing which he could be hanged in his friend's place. On the appointed day, when the convicted man returned a little late, his friend was already hanged and this man was released because his death sentence was already executed.

I was once convicted by my own conscience and I felt so much hatred on myself that even without the death sentence pronounced, I was prepared to kill myself. Death seemed more dear to me than my wretched life. At that time of my life, my Friend revealed Himself to me and explained how He had already paid the price for my wrong deed. He had borne my sins upon Himself and all He required from me was that I should confess my sins to Him and accept the pardon that He had earned for me through His pathetic death. I did that and was freed from all my sins and their penalty - that is death. He died for me. I am alive today, because He released me from my death sentence. He is my Saviour, my Redeemer.

He Rose from the Dead and He Forgives

My Best Friend rose from the dead and He has been given the authority to judge the living and the dead. When someone comes to Him and confesses his sins and acknowledges the pardon that He offers, the person is truly released from the penalty for the sins of the person, that is death.

Not only that, He talks gracious words of love, He heals anyone just by His gentle embrace and smile. He walks on water and rides on the clouds. He loves me beyond measure and He cares for me every moment. Yet, the greatest thing that impresses me is that He came forward and gave His life when I was convicted for my faults. He died in my place. He died in the place of every sinner who would come to Him and accept His pardon.

I Will Meet Him in Heaven

My Best Friend, the most influencial person in anyone's life, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High God, Who came down from Heaven to release those who are convicted for death due to their sins, through His pathetic death upon the cross shedding even the last drop in His body to plead pardon for our sins, rose from the dead and is seated on the right hand of the Heavenly Father. He has not just granted us pardon for our sins, but also He offers us eternal life - deathless life in Heaven after the worldly death. We will meet Him in Heaven if we accept the free gift that He offers -- eternal life. I have accepted and acknowledged Him for the best gift that anyone can ever receive in this world. My dear friend, are you willing to receive that free gift? The moment you accept His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, your life would be influenced. You also would become a person of great influence to others, because He will be Master over your life.

Just Ask Him and He will Give

My Best Friend has promised, "Whatever you ask in My name, you will receive." So I ask whatever I need in His name This is possible because He is my Master and I am His disciple (or student). He leads my life. The influence He has had upon my life is eternal. My friend, would you now acknowledge His free gift and say this prayer, asking Him to rule over your life and make a true influence upon your life for eternity?

Dear Lord Jesus,

I admit that am a sinner. If I look back at my meaningless life, I am alarmed by the number of evil deeds I have done so far (remember them and name them one by one before the Lord Jesus Christ). I confess that You are the Son of God who came to die for the transgressions of every man. Today, I acknowledge that You died for my sins. I don't have to worry about those past sins because You have saved me from the penalty for those sins. I receive pardon for all of them from Your hands now, in faith.

Lord Jesus, I surrender my life into Your hands now and invite You into my heart and life, to rule over me as my Master. Take control of everything in my life and influence my life by Your love. Lead me to that eternal life in Heaven, which is reserved for the holy ones. I thank You for cleansing me, making me holy and worthy to enter that eternal life in Heaven with You. I know that You have granted all things that I ever need in my life, because I ask in Your almighty prayer-answering name. Amen.

Friend, God bless you and influence your life! May He make you a person of influence to other friends too! Pass on this free gift to everyone you know.