“I started off as a drifter. I started teaching not because I liked it but I drifted into it,” said Wrutheran who became a teacher out of the influence of his peers.
Wrutheran was a handsome young man who did not know what to do with his life, until he drifted into the arms of Jesus Christ.
“I became a Christian in the university, far away from home in Kuala Lumpur. If I had been at home, I would not have been in contact with so many Christian friends. And I may not have followed Jesus Christ,” said Wrutheran.
All of his friends were doing weekly Bible studies, in which he eventually joined. From the very first day of accepting Christ, studying the Bible was part and parcel of his faith.
“I am very thankful for the good beginning. Within the first few weeks of becoming a Christian, I was praying, studying the Scriptures, and sharing the gospel by knocking on doors in the university hostels.
“After a few months, I found myself following up someone else. It was on-the-job training. In most churches today, that doesn’t happen… There are so many activities in the church that seem to distract people from the main thing,” said Wrutheran.
Jesus gave His final Commandment to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)
“It’s very important for every person to be a serious Bible student, to take a great interest in reading and studying the Bible. A lot of young people are ignorant of the Old Testament.
“But the Old Testament lays the foundation for the New Testament. If you don’t understand the Old Testament, your understanding of the New Testament is bound to be shallow,” said Wrutheran.
Wrutheran took the Word more seriously when his father suddenly died of a heart attack. For the first time, death became real to him. It made him ponder about life and death through the Word of God.
For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
“I find that the Bible makes sense and addresses all aspects of life. It was a process of being convinced of the truths the Bible taught. Over time, you are gaining new information and teaching about different aspects of life and of death.
“The Bible seems to have answers to many questions I used to have,” said Wrutheran in regards to how human beings came into existence and the sinful nature of men.
But it was not until he decided in his heart to believe in Jesus Christ that the Bible became alive and relevant in his life.
“Earlier, it was just some intellectual material. But when I accepted Christ, it made more personal sense to me. It became relevant to me. And so, I continued to study the Bible.
“God speaks to me through the Bible. Every time I read a new passage of Scripture, there’s something new that I can learn. I am just convinced with what the Bible teaches. It’s the reality.
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalm 119:160)
“God created the world, the universe, and humans in His own image. We are special creations of God – each one of us! And there’s much value attached to a human. Unfortunately, we are fallen beings now and we seem surrounded by evil,” said Wrutheran, adding that the Bible and reality perfectly match.
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 18:30)
Not only Wrutheran cherished the Word of God, he also depended on prayer to decide on whether he should transfer to a school in Kuala Terengganu. A newly planted church there needed a pastor.
“It was a challenge for me but I put in my application anyway for transfer from one school to another,” said Wrutheran, depending on God to open the doors if it was His Will.
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
And to his amazement, not only his application was accepted to Terengganu, he was transferred to the exact town where the church was located in.
However, the transfer did not come without challenges. In the Malay school, Wrutheran had to learn to teach in Bahasa Malaysia. So, every night, he would prepare his teaching script with the dictionary and the help of his colleagues.
“The first couple of years were tough. I did not have problem with content but I had problem with language. In my first school, I learned the content. But in my second school, I learned the language,” said Wrutheran.
After five years teaching, he mastered both content and language of teaching. Hence, after a decade of teaching, he was accepted to be a lecturer in the Teachers Training College in Kuala Terengganu. Praise God!
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (Psalm 33:4)
“Since I believed in Jesus, I have developed a love for the Word because it gave me life and direction. It shaped my life and it was life-changing for me,” said Wrutheran.
Like how he developed love for his beloved wife by spending time to know her, he built chemistry with God by reading His Word.
“I look for the application of the Word in my life. When I see the relevance of His Word in my life, my interest began to grow as well. How I lead my life and how I use my time and resources… things became clearer to me as I keep studying the Word of God,” said Wrutheran.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130)
All it took was only one step at a time for God to transform his mind, which transformed his life.
When asked if the generation today had a harder time in their walk of faith, Wrutheran shared how we are more privileged to have many free Bible studies online. However, we also face many more distractions, especially from the entertainment world.
“If you were to ask who we admired during our younger days, we would talk about missionaries, humanitarians, doctors, and scientists. We see them as heroes.
“But if you were to ask the generation today, they admire stars and celebrities, but their lives are so messed up,” said Wrutheran who admired Abraham Lincoln when he was younger, for freeing the slaves.
Finally, having moved to Kuala Terengganu for the past 35 years and served as an Elder of Kuala Terengganu Baptist church, he shared how churches in small towns are in dire need of ministry workers.
“The church in small towns could not support a pastor. So, if you want to serve God, come find a job in a small town. It is like a tent making ministry. You serve in church and you support yourself,” said Wrutheran, adding how the lack of manpower in churches give ample opportunities to serve in many leadership roles.
A man who depended on God’s Word as the lamp to his feet and a light to his path, Wrutheran lived his life according to the sweet syllable of God’s Word that offered him love, hope, faith, comfort, truth, and strength.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
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