Sadhu Sundar Singh’s 134 birth anniversary is on 3 September. Born into a godly family in Rampur, Punjab, at the young age of 15, he had an encounter with the risen Christ that quenched his thirst to know God, which led to an unquenchable desire for the love of God and His creation that made his message and life a blessing.
One of his famous sayings is: “Give the water of life in an Indian cup.” He used all the cultural goods of India to communicate the message of Jesus Christ.
So, Jesus Christ and His message are considered to belong to India.
In 1920, Sadhu became a missionary to the West; people were drawn to him because he matched the image of an Indian holy man, a mystic with a turban, saffron robes and a dark beard.
The amazing Corrie ten Boom of Netherlands, whose life was shaped by various encounters, then a young woman eagerly went to hear him. C.S. Lewis took an interest in Singh and referenced him in at least two books.
Sadhu read the Bible to experience union with God. A large proportion of his life was devoted to meditation on some chapter of the Bible, preferably the New Testament and the Psalms, or on God in Nature, and meditation leading on to prayer, prayer leading on to silent communion, silent communion leading on to the inner transport of ecstasy.
Jesus Christ is the mediator through whom we see or have darshan of the glory of God. We live in times where advertisements of products seek our attention and love. And we forget to look up to God the Father, the source of all life.
We often separates ourselves from God’s life and wonder where God is, especially during troubling times. The good news is Jesus unites us with the life of God. Is love of God our top priority?