The stone that the builder refused...

The more and more I look back into my life I notice that i have always been searching for approval.  Being an Indian-born, only English language speaking, individual from a nearly unknown city in India (Sindh -- who's even heard of that, its even underlined in MSWord as a typo???), I've always felt like an outcast.

Wouldn't it be great to just have everyone approve of everything I do, to no longer feel like an outcast?  That would be the best thing ever?  Right, RIGHT???

Wrong, this is my biggest sin.

This is all about me, and not about Jesus and what he has done for me.  In the past (and with the tendency even today), I've worshipped the idol called "Approval", who offers me salvation and says "one day everyone will approve of you, if you trust yourself, you have all this work to do, you need to wear a mask because you are not good enough."  He goes on to say, "If you follow me, you will reach your salvation, "Approval" and everyone will love you!"

Much of my struggle boils down to an experience I had about a year ago.  In college I met a girl who I really liked.  Initially we hit it off right away; we would do everything together, go to the dining common, go to the market, watch TV, movies, etc.  However, as the relationship began to fizzle down, I began to fiend her Approval more than anything.  I wanted her to like me, or Approve of me, for almost no logical reasoning but my own gain.

The idol began to overtake me, and led me to make several irrational decisions.

Eventually, I asked her out.

I was rejected.

This is when I met Jesus Christ, who, if you don't already know, over two thousand years ago, was born, fully-man and fully-god, and walked this earth.  As he performed miracles and healed thousands of people, the chief priests and elders at the time rejected him, calling him a false god, and his miracles blasphemy.

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

(Matthew 21:42-44 ESV)


Jesus took a risk to deliver the truth to the elders, sinless and blameless, for the purpose of giving life to others.

I took a risk for my idol, approval, with the sole purpose of my own gain.

We were both rejected.  We both felt the same human emotion.  Jesus gets me, he is my homie, he understands what it is like.

But I am sinful, and worship idols, and my only hope is through a relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Being rejected by this girl, at the time, seemed to be the worst thing in the world for me, however, it has become the cornerstone of my life, and through Jesus, is marveled.

It has become evident that this rejection was the Lord's doing, because he loves me so much.  Through his love, He guarantees salvation, defeat of my idol, and a gospel-centered awaking... similar to how Jesus surpassed the elders, was resurrected, and still lives today.

My pastor at Garden City Church, Justin Buzzard, likes to say "When you ask God for things, you are asking for silver, but he gives you gold."

When I asked this girl out, silver, God gave me gold in his son, Jesus Christ.

The talk and the walk.

I attended Garden City three weeks ago as a guest with my childhood friend John. It was an ordinary day and I wasn't expecting much. During the sermon, I heard the gospel for the first time. My legs were trembling, and my heart was sweating. I felt Jesus for the first time.

I began to reflect on my experience at Church for several hours, and something felt different about this religious experience than other ones I have had in the past. I was born a Hindu, and attended several religious events with my family in my life. I had never really "believed" in Hinduism and partook in the worship very systematically. In church, there was something very different about the environment and different how people were acting, and it made me feel different.

I wanted to feel and meet Jesus. Who was this man who took led me in this church and give me this experience? Why him and no one else?

That same night I went out to a friends house and began talking of the gospel. I found myself feeling a sense of exhileration as the right words seemed flow through my mouth at the right time.

I reached out to John who suggested we sit down and talk about what I was feeling. Two days later, i met with John who broke down the gospel into a story, and explained to me why Jesus died for our sins. We began to talk about my Sins and how Jesus, could be my savior, if I let him. I let him in.

That same evening we went back to John’s house and began to Pray. The type of Prayer was very shocking to me. I spent much of my life "praying" to whom i was a "non-believer" without building a "relationship."

Praying has helped me open up to really understand what I am feeling and thinking. Getting to know Jesus through prayer took a huge burden off me. No longer was I alone, no longer was I praying but not really praying. I now know how to pray, I now have a relationship with Jesus, and am free'd from my sins.

“Im free’d from my sins!, Im free from my sins!”” where the exact words I kept saying for the next several days. I was happier then I had ever been. Without sin, I felt like I had more energy to be happy and even give back to Christ!

I attended a neighborhood group meeting with several other believers of whom I shared my story and spoke of the gospel more. I also began to spread the message of Jesus to non-believers, and have brought my best bud, Phil, closer to Jesus.

In the past three weeks, I have changed so much. I have gone from being lonely, low self confident, and not really wanting to live. To being full of life, having a relationship with Jesus, extra energy to give back to god, and a church that I look forward to attend every Sunday