Doug - Australia

Nickname: Doug

From early in my life, I yearned for spiritual things and felt privileged to be born into a spiritually-minded family where our library of esoteric literature, metaphysical delights and gurus in super-abundance covered many hundreds of volumes. I eagerly studied and meditated on the “realm of the infinite," implementing the most effective methods for spiritual progress. My goal was “enlightenment."

Further, I sensed a special duty to help herald in the 'New Age.' Yoga asanas (postures), fasting, vegetarianism and meditation were a regular part of my life. I became evangelical for the 'Golden Age' that was dawning, as my father had been before me.

Often, my pilgrimage took me to isolated places in order to avoid the usual distractions of everyday life. I built a tree house that became a spiritual sanctuary. Yet, my life felt cloudy and weighed down; the promises of liberty failed to deliver, and I didn’t find love, joy and peace at that time.

Gradually, the name, Jesus, came more into focus. Like a pilgrim lost on his journey, I came to realise that the “enlightenment” of the 'New Age' was like a "carrot on the end of a stick," a lure toward advancement, yet seldom, if ever, found.

Occasionally, I began to meet people who would claim that Jesus Christ is the way of true enlightenment. Of course, this statement would appear to me as very narrow-minded. I knew the "Christ Consciousness" of the 'New Age.' Yet, the Jesus of the Bible was being joyously proclaimed as the One who truly set people free. All the signs were there: glowing faces, heartfelt embraces, abundant lives, and amazing stories of a search fulfilled in meeting Christ. All this was worthy of my consideration.

I began to see that no other life compared to that of Christ's: in love, wisdom and beauty of spirit. No one else claimed to be the only way to true freedom and abundant life.

As my heart sincerely reached for an understanding of these mysteries, the spiritual presence of Jesus became even stronger. He revealed Himself to me in a most glorious way, and I realised then that Christ alone was the pinnacle of my pilgrimage. I realised, too, that Christ alone could wash away the impurity of my soul (or Karma, as I had been calling it). I accepted Christ as Savior and Lord and the radiant joy He offers.

God is wonderfully kind in His free gift of salvation offered through His Son. Because we are separated from God by sin, we literally have “missed the mark." Yet, in His profound love, God beckons us back to Him through Jesus Christ, to enter into a joyous relationship with Him. Jesus is the God-Invented "done" method. Religion is the man-invented "do" method.

Twenty three years have passed since these events. Today, I am in full-time work serving Christian brothers and sisters in difficult situations. I often travel, taking photos and gathering news in remote places.

I am certain God has a special plan for every person’s life, a plan that will make our short sojourn on earth take on eternal significance.