I know what is dharma (good) but I am unable to do it; I know what is adharma (evil) but I cannot avoid doing it.

This statement is made by the old sage Dritharashtra when he lost both his eyes, in the great epic Mahabaratha. How true is this statement in our lives too!

While talking about dharma (good) each person has his own way of interpreting it. We know what is good and evil. We learn about dharma through moral principles in society, religious books such as Vedanta, Upanishads, Quran, Baghawath Githa, and different philosophies. We love to talk on such topics. We all know that our karma (actions or deeds), either good or bad decides our destiny. If our actions are clean and good we will be rewarded rightly or else be punished. When we carefully analyze our lives, we find that our actions and thoughts are not up to the mark. Many a times we fail to do good. The statement by Dritharashtra is not an exception. Something is lacking in us. We have no peace and rest. We carry burdens, which others cannot understand. We camouflage the problems, which lie deep within us with charming smiles. When we talk to others we try to act as though we are the happiest people living in the world. The burdens that torture us maybe a huge debt, shattered love affairs, an illness which torment us, issues of family life... the list goes on. The main problem of every human being is adharma. We are not born into this world to do adharma (evil) but somehow all mankind became corrupted. Since we habitually do adharma we feel we are separated from God. We all believe that God is one. In fact we are all far away from the true living God. In their pursuit to reach God, people came up with different conclusions. Such conclusions were named variously, easy to distinguish. As a result man made different religions. All religions are man-made.

Practically speaking, all religions are a set of practices, traditionally followed by a group of people, who think by practicing them they reach God. If we really take time and consider our practices, we ourselves find that we are the most non-thinking people on earth! We carry our so-called gods around the city, dress them, pour ghee over their heads, while thousands starve without a meal. We light candles in front of the portrait of the saints. Walk around and fall prostrate before them. Some others even think that God is leased and forgives them, if they pray five times a day. Which of these traditions is the right way? Are all of them right?

If man please God in his own ways, then man could have attained God by his philosophies, religious practices and traditions. Some even go to all religious worship places, to please all gods. They do this, hoping that anyone of these gods would help them or to just avoid the curse of other gods. A person, who strictly follows all the above is still a failure. This proves that man's ways are incomplete to attain God. Thus it is impossible to please God or to attain moksha (salvation) by man made ways (rituals and traditions). If man cannot achieve moksha (deliverance) by his own efforts, then the last resort is God himself. God has to open a way for man to achieve moksha. Yes, God did it! Not because man is doing dharma and his karma (deeds) is right but because He loves. Some may ask. 'Does God love?' Definitely, GOD IS LOVE. If there is God, His foremost attribute must be 'Love'. Only then man has something to do with Him. If God loves man, God needs to come as a human being in flesh and blood. Otherwise how will man know God's love? God should show His love towards man by solving the biggest problem that man faces i.e. To atone for is adharma (evil deeds) and transform him. If this can be done the solution to man's basic problem is achieved. God as mortal being should undergo the difficulties and suffering of a human. I.e. also needs to pay the penalty of adharma (misdeeds or sins), not by mere words but by undergoing an immense punishment on behalf of man. The greatest sacrifice one can make is by giving his life for another. This is the concept behind yaga or homa (to offer something to death on behalf of one's sins). Yagas popular from the very olden days. This idea is clearly portrayed in the Vedas, the earliest of Hindu literature. The 4 Vedas are Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Many believe that Vedas were directly revealed to our rishis, many years before Christ.

This cry of the human heart in search of truth, light and life is as Identification as human history. The rishis in the Vedic period had a glimpse f the truth. They wrote down their findings. The yaga (sacrifice) becomes complete only when the perfect man offers his life for his fellow-beings. This person should be without adharma. This is the only way for deliverance from adharma and attaining moksha. Has such a person ever lived n the face of the earth? God came as a human being like you and me and experienced a sacrificial death (yaga) as a penalty f the sins of mankind. Go back through history and you find this person - Jesus Christ. Jesus came to the world not to teach man any tradition or to frame a religion. He is more-than a guru teacher, a prophet and a reformer. Jesus came to save and to give forgiveness from the adharma (sins).

According to Hindu philosophy, the age we now live is the last age called kaliyuga. In all the yugas(ages) before kaliyuga many Avatharas (Prophets) came to the world and the policy they adopted to wipe out adharma was nigraha. Nigraha means to destroy the evil by violence. Imagine if an Avathara (Prophet) comes in this age to destroy the evil men, who among us would be spared of death? Some philosophers date the beginning of kaliyuga 2000 years back in history. Which avathara came in the beginning of kaliyuga 2000 years ago? Is it not Jesus? He came not to kill the wicked people but became rakshaka (savior) by giving His own-life as a ransom and penalty for our sins. The Bible says, 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His -only son Jesus. Anyone who believes in Him will not be destroyed but have life eternally' (John 3 : 16). Is this not the answer to the cry of our rishis when they prayed, 'Mrithyuma Amrutham Gamaya', 3000 years before Christ?

Jesus said, 'You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free'. 'If therefore the son (Jesus) shall make you free you shall be free indeed'. (John 8: 32,36). This is the truth of liberation which philosophers and great men sought for in the ages past. Jesus can make you free indeed, from all your sins to fill, our heart with forgiveness, from all your worries to fill your heart with peace and from all your fears to fill your heart with love. Philosophers burn their heads to find liberation. While the way to liberation is opened to all who seek Jesus and believe in Him. Is this not the answer to the cry, 'Asathoma sath gamaya'?

In another place Jesus said,' I am the light of the world, He who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life' (John 8: "12). Is this not the answer to the cry, 'Thamasoma Jyothir Gamaya'?

Suppose a murderer who was convicted before the court as a criminal was sentenced to be hanged to death. The only way for him to go free is when another person willingly accepts the punishment for him. Similarly, we too cannot go free unless another bear the punishment for our offences. Though many are willing to help us they themselves are helpless because all are committing adharma (sin), one way or the other. No one in this world is cent percent innocent to die in behalf of another one's sins.

Here comes an intimate friend, sinless and perfect man to become the sacrifice. Jesus, who was not convicted of any sins, bore the punishment for you and me. The place where Jesus lived was under the Roman Empire, which was the biggest government then. After the trial of Jesus and before His death, Pilate the Roman governor said, 'I find no guilt in him'. (John 18: 38). Later the same Pilate delivered Jesus to be hanged on the cross (crucified). (John 19: 16). What an absurd judgment made by the biggest court in those days! Let us examine the other side of it. If Jesus was convicted of any guilt, His suffering on the cross would have been for Himself. Then He would not have boren our punishment.

The date which we are accustomed to is known as AD (anno domini), which means 'In the year of our Lord'. This era begins with the birth of Jesus Christ. BC means before Christ'. Therefore Christ is the person who stands in between the historical events dividing it into AD and BC. In other words, history is just a story if Jesus is a myth. Josephus, the great historian who lived during the times of Jesus has given an account on the life of Jesus and the early Christians.

The coming of Christ was simultaneously foreseen by the sages and prophets who lived in different parts of the earth, many years before Christ. Apart from the rishis of Vedic period in India, many wise men from the east knew the coming of the savior. The 'old Testament' in the Bible mentions the qualities of the Savior-Jesus. How He should be born and how He must suffer and die. All these prophecies were literally fulfilled at Christ's coming. This is a second evidence of His earthly days. The entry of Jesus into the pages of history was not accidental but long awaited with great anticipation.

Man cannot save himself. Therefore Christ came in the likeness of man not just to instruct and live a good life; but to give His life as an exchange for the penalty of our sins. Jesus Christ is the evidence of God's love to mankind. He set the revolution of love in the souls of men. Suppose a thief comes to the police and surrenders himself, and says, 'I will no more steal'. Can he escape the punishment for the crime? Some people are like this thief. They think that they can go free by mere confession of sins to God. Just by feeling guilty will not make one clean in the sight of God. Therefore Jesus had to pay the heavy price by shedding His blood on the cross to make you free. Christ has not only paid for your past sins but He also promised the transformed life to one who personally believes in Him. Many time we make good decisions, but only Jesus can completely forgive our sins and help us to lead a good life. It is only when you believe and accept in your heart that Christ has died on the cross for paying the penalty of your past sins and there upon trusting Him to make you a good person, you are saved.. This is God's plan of attaining salvation (moksha).

Finally if this is the conclusion you have arrived at, you are not fully correct. Definitely, Christ is a respectable person. While He lived on the earth He healed many sick people and raised the dead. But there is something, more which makes him the most respectable. He didn't come to the world for man's certificate of recognition. He existed before all things and is the creator of the vast universe. But He came down to earth to accomplish the greatest mission, which any human being imagined he could do i.e. 'To save his people from their sins (adharma)' (Matthew 1: 21). Jesus is not part of dead history. As He foretold He arose from the dead breaking the seals of the grave. Death could not hold the Son of Man. We find the beautiful tombs and memorials of great reformers and wise men. Many great men have also taught great truths and did many miracles and lived pious lives. But they could not come out of their graves as their powerful words seemed to be. We see a lot of god men and prophets claiming what Jesus said. They teach good things and make great promises. But none of them I have suffered, died on the cross for our sins and rose from I the dead on the third day as Jesus did. Jesus warned, 'Many I will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will mislead many. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many'. (Matthew 24: 5,11). The peace and happiness we find in this world is only illusory. He said, 'I came that they might have life and have it abundantly'. (John 10: 10). Jesus is still alive. His love still lives because He too lives. Choose for yourself today whether you would accept Jesus or the imitation of truth, which you see around.

In Upanishads, it is written that during the end of Kaliyuga when the state of adharma is at its lowest, the avathara (prophet) comes to destroy the evil completely.

Nobody needs an explanation as to the condition of our present corrupted system. Who is this avathara who comes to destroy evil completely? Jesus is coming back to the judge the world, the Bible says. Even the Quran asserts that Isa (Jesus) will come again. Nowadays man is perplexed thinking about the future of the earth and its limited resources. The human governments are becoming more unstable the disciples of Jesus' are anticipating His second coming as a time of comfort and joy. While others are worried seeing the signs of this corrupted age. Jesus will not come again to become a sacrifice a second time because He has already opened a way for the salvation of man. He is coming to judge those who neglected the forgiveness and salvation. The grace period of God is soon coming to an end. The judgment and punishment is going to fall on those who neglected the way of Jesus. 'He who believes in Him is not judged; He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God (Jesus)'. (John 3:18). If you do not believe in Jesus and accept him as your Lord and Savior now, you can on no way escape judgment. 'And this is judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil' (John 3:19). Do not love darkness when Jesus the, light is come to the world. Remember! There is no other way to flee the coming judgment. Or a second chance to decide, since nobody knows either the time of his death or the time of Christ's return. Then is this not the right time to think over this truth seriously and take the decision of life?

Author: Mr. Silas Titus