Thai people are strong believers in the spirit world and sacred objects with magical powers. My friend's uncle told me that he owned an amulet that would protect a person from being shot by a gun. Other amulets protect the wearer from different types of physical harm.
The conversation opened a golden opportunity to share the gospel. Though this world is full of many different deities and spirits, there is one God who is creator and has power over all other spirits.
Only Jesus has ever proved Himself by becoming a man, dying on the cross and coming back alive from the dead. Jesus is not just another deity. He is the one and only creator God of all things. They were surprised to hear that Jesus never offered a guarantee of protection from physical harm. Jesus promises salvation from spiritual death. And for all of life's physical dangers and problems, Jesus goes WITH us through those things!
No matter how long I've lived in Thailand, I continue to be dismayed at the Thai people's complete ignorance of the gospel. They live in fear of dangers and vainly hope for some sort of “help” from the spirit world. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
I thank God for the continued opportunities to share the truth of the gospel with those who have never heard. Pray that the people of Thailand will be delivered from the “powers of darkness” into God's kingdom of light.