Sikhism

 4/7/18               Aashish                       about 30

It was 6 AM at an interstate rest stop somewhere in Wisconsin.  The man with the beard and turban around his head (looking very similar to posted photo) brightened up when I asked about his spiritual background and beliefs.  Aashish said he is not a Muslim from the Middle East as most Americans assume from his appearance, but a Sikh from India.  He now drives truck over-the-road because it pays more than his previous job as a nurse in Florida.

I asked how devoutly he observes his religious beliefs.  “About 50%”  he said.  “If I were 101% observant, I would look very different.  My beard would be uncut and I would wear traditional clothes and carry a sword as my elders in India do.”   He seemed very preoccupied, in my opinion, with outward appearances and even told me that if he died today he would go to hell for not being 101% observant.

Yet he didn’t seem too worried about it.  Why?  Because he believes that when he can get more established in a career and settle down and be his own person, he will then be observant.  Until then, or until he can do so in a reincarnated life, God will protect him from an untimely death.  No worries.

Aashish was used to conversations about his religion with his American college classmates, and very happy to talk about it.  But none of them had really explained much about Christianity, so he was also happy to hear my explanation of it.  He had a lot of good questions which let me know he was really thinking it through and considering the Gospel.

I explained how we really are not guaranteed freedom from an untimely death, how Jesus said that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  We see and hear about people dying at a young age all the time, and we can’t count on special treatment just because we believe ourselves to be righteous.  But Aashish saw himself as unrighteous, with no plans to change anytime soon, so how much more should he be concerned? 

Yet Jesus offers us hope that God will not treat us as our sins deserve, that we do not have to be subject to God’s perfect justice personally but can instead experience His mercy because Jesus took our punishment for us: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Aashish was concerned that it might just simply be easy to proclaim faith in Jesus while continuing in sin, but it’s not about insurance from hell, its about a relationship with our heavenly Father:  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

I told him about my earthly father, how it is a joy to honor him, and how much more joy it is to honor our heavenly Father in response to his sacrifice at the cross.  Pursuing sin isn’t even on the radar screen for those who have been born again of his Spirit through faith in Jesus.  Paul wonders how it can even considered an option – “We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

Aashish could relate.  He too respects and loves his earthly father and takes joy in honoring him.  He was beginning to understand how a relationship with God could be based on love rather than outward appearances or adherence to tradition. 

Under circumstances like this at an out of state rest area at 6AM, I doubt I will ever see Aashish again this side of heaven (though he does have my contact information).  Did I change his whole world view in one conversation?  That wasn’t my goal, but he was asking some good questions and getting some thought-provoking answers.  And he knows where he can get even more answers as I pointed him toward God’s word.  He will also benefit from my prayers, and hopefully yours if you are interested enough to have read this far.  And that’s good enough for me!