Hello friends, in the last episode I had shared on the birth of my book “From Darkness to Glorious Light. In this episode we will visit the circumstances that led to Tam Ki’s premature death, his exciting adventure in Heaven and his raising from the dead by the Lord Jesus.

“I thank God for rescuing me from darkness and giving me salvation in a supernatural manner. He has bestowed on me grace after grace, through many miracles, visions and dreams; and He continues to surround me with His glory. He lifts my countenance. I am so grateful to Him for giving me an exciting and blessed life that has been beyond my wildest imagination. I count it a privilege to be part of the wonderful work that God is doing in my country. He is constantly watching over me and enlarging my ministry.”

Tam Ki married a girl who is a few months older than him at the age of 18. During their marriage over 47 years, his wife Thang Shwe has become his pillar of support.

It all started from a grave disease that led to his death, when Tam Ki’s life came to a turning point. At the age of 20, his body was already weakened by the exhausting labour of the past few years. He had been seriously ill for the whole month of November 1973. Those around him believed that he was suffering from Khogaw, an illness believed to be caused by the spirits. At an appointed time, the spirits would certainly come and snatch the soul away to Hell. To appease the spirits, animal sacrifices would be required. However, as Tam Ki’s family was heavily in debt, they could no longer afford to buy animals for sacrifice. His health deteriorated by the day. Tam Ki felt the last of his strength ebbing away. He knew his end was near and he had no control over it. He was resigned to let nature take its course. His elderly mother and his young wife watched in dread his once muscular body wasting away to skin and bones. They were devastated to see what was happening to him and braced themselves for the worst. Soon Tam Ki was unable to eat anything and was drifting in and out of consciousness.

One evening, Tam Ki was suddenly jolted awake. He sensed the presence of evil and saw an ugly creature with big, red eyes and a long tongue hanging out of its mouth in front of him. It prodded him with cold, clammy fingers and he cried out in terror. As he struggled to free himself, he saw it sank its claws into his arms and tried to bite him. Tam Ki was terrified, believing that this ferocious spirit would eat him alive. Inexplicably, the creature gave up. This apparition was typical of many struggles with the spirits that he endured during his illness. His sleep was more and more disturbed.

“He’s dead!” an elderly villager told Tam Ki’s mum as she examined his cold, stiff body. The older lady could hardly believe that her precious son had gone ahead of her into Hell. Some of women arrived with rice and other food to be cooked for Tam Ki’s funeral, as was the custom. The dancers and musicians arrived and made preparations for the Funeral Dance. This sword dance was performed over three days to entertain the spirit of the deceased as he journeyed into Hell with due pomp and ceremony. It was believed to pave the way for the departed to gain favour from the King of Hell in their local belief.

Tam Ki had died, but he realized that a part of him was somewhere else! In fact, through a supernatural experience, he had climbed the ladder into Heaven itself where he met hundreds of shining heavenly beings singing wonderful melodies. He had walked along a golden pathway in an enormous flower garden, and had seen tables spread for a feast. He had even come face to face with a most extraordinary Man clad in a long white garment in a magnificent mansion encrusted with precious stones. His face, body and even his robe – all emanated light. Deep down in Tam Ki’s heart he knew this Man was God. Strangely he felt that this Man had known all about him and that his life had depended in Him for protection. What’s even more mystifying was that the Man’s palms had scars. Being raised in a primitive tribe in a remote jungle, Tam Ki and his tribe had no concept of Christianity. In his culture, they believe all will eventually go to Hell at death. Now that Tam Ki had seen the splendor of Heaven, he was ecstatic and leaping in joy. What more, the Lord had personally shown Tam Ki around His Golden City. Although he knew that he was unworthy of the Lord’s warm reception, Tam Ki was overwhelmed by the immense love and peace the Lord expressed to him. However, the Heaven visit proved to be short-lived. The Lord instructed Tam Ki to return to his people to tell them all he had seen in Heaven and to tell them no to worship spirits but to worship God alone.

Suddenly, Tam Ki opened his eyes. He was not in Heaven but lying on the grass mat on the floor of his hut. He saw the women weeping over his body. Then, one of them exclaimed, “He’s alive!” Another, just as bewildered said, “Tam Ki! You were dead! We have come to wash your body and dress you in your funeral clothes!” With heavenly experience still vivid in his mind, Tam Ki replied with a firmness that amazed them. “No, I did not die. I am very much alive! I have been to the Golden City of Heaven and met God Himself!” They insisted that he had not gone anywhere but had died that morning in his hut. But with renewed strength, he sat up and related to them all that he had seen and heard in Heaven.

From that time onwards, Tam Ki continually pleaded with those around him, “We must stop worshipping spirits, or else we will surely die in hell forever. Only those who worship the true God will live with Him in Heaven!” All were surprised and speechless when they heard these strange things, and many were convinced that he had gone mad. Tam Ki’s miraculous raising from the dead and his ravings about visit to heaven had the entire village perplexed. In his culture, it was generally believed that no soul would ever make it to Heaven, since everyone had in their lifetime done evil deeds and was therefore unworthy to enter Heaven. Even worse, blood revenge was a common practice in their custom, with clansmen duty-bound to avenge their relatives’ deaths. Such behaviour certainly made Heaven an impossible destination. His incredible story was a confirmation that he had gone crazy. Repulsed by what they saw as his wild ravings, the villagers began to reject him.

Soon after, Tam Ki saw the Man he had met in Heaven in a dream. He instructed Tam Ki again to tell others not to worship the spirits but to worship God alone so that they will come to Heaven. From then on, Tam Ki would hear this voice repeatedly by day and at night in dreams as the Man visited him, reminding him of his mission. And in his dreams, he saw himself speaking boldly to thousands of people, many of them from different races and ethnic groups. Tam Ki was thrilled and wondered what the future would hold for him. He was filled with a new sense of purpose in his life. His mission was to tell others what he had seen and heard.

The battle between Tam Ki’s new faith and spirit-worshipping people continued with intensity. People treated him with contempt, ridicule and suspicion. A number of times during this period the Lord appeared to him in a dream with the same message that not be worried, and He was always with him. Worship only God. From the first day that the Lord called Tam Ki to follow Him, he began to feel disgust for things that had previously given him pleasure. Tam Ki could no longer drink his once favourite red millet wine. The villagers repeatedly coaxed him to return to spirit worship, to take up wine drinking again and give up his new faith in God. His wife’s wealthy brother, Thang Mana, offered precious gifts if Tam Ki return to spirit worship. Others tempted him with oxen, pigs and livestock. These offers were attractive as Tam Ki was still very much in debt. However, he remained faithful because he knew God was on his side and believed that God would see him through all hardship.

During this time, his wife was repeatedly sick and at times she almost died. Relatives told Tam Ki that the spirits were angry with him for betraying them. The elders even tried to drive him out of the village. Many people said that it was better for him to die than to live as a madman who had brought disgrace to his tribe and family.

“I did not blame people for their hostile attitude towards my newfound faith. I was angry with the spirits for blinding people and frustrated that I was not able to persuade others about the reality of faith in God.”

One day, Tam Ki went into the jungle to spend some time talking to God. He was there for three days and nights fasting. Tam Ki cried out for God’s help. Assured that God was on his side, Tam Ki was filled with courage to confront the spirits. As he approached the spirit altar, he heard an angry voice. Tam Ki looked around and saw no one. He replied, “This place was created by God and not for you. Evil spirit, get out!” Tam Ki heard a loud sound, but he could see nothing and held his ground. He was terrified but continued to repeat the same words. Tam Ki felt an icy cold hand tugging at his clothes, touching the bare skin of his back. He heard his heart thumping loudly against his chest. But Tam Ki continued to repeat the same words, driving the spirits out. At last, he saw the grass rustling and the branches of the shrubs moving as if something invisible was moving away from that place. Tam Ki felt a sense of relief and victory. He knew he had won and God is indeed a powerful God, whom even the spirits fear. Each morning when Tam Ki woke up, he sensed a warmth in his heart.

“I knew that it was God. Through nightly dreams and in daily conversations, the Lord continued to talk with me. I had peace and joy in my inner being as I felt God’s presence in my daily activities. I was no longer afraid of the spirits, for I now had God as my protector.”

What shall Tam Ki do to achieve his mission and stand firm in his newfound faith? Let’s listen to next Thursday’s story of how Tam Ki strengthened his heart in the Lord as a newborn believer. Stay tune and goodbye!