Personal Story of Derek Lam

My Swiss mother met my Chinese father in London, England, got married in Zurich, Switzerland, and decided to move to the small peninsula country of Malaysia in the heart of South East Asia where I was born in the late ’60s.  Growing up in the heat of the tropics, I appreciated my rich cultural heritage and loved the variety of ethnic foods as well as the different holidays associated with the different religions of the country.

For the first six years of my education, I attended public school.  Malaysia was a British colony, and for many years, it enjoyed a high standard of education.  However, during my generation, the medium of instruction moved from English to Malay, and the average class size was fifty students.  It wasn’t long before I fell behind significantly with my studies, and I started to really hate school.

Public School photo. I am the last one on the right (middle row).

Changing to a Private School

My parents decided to move me to a private British school, predominantly for expatriates, located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. At this exclusive school, the average class size was 15, and I loved learning in English, the language we spoke at home.  I was exposed to even more cultures and nationalities because it was a school full of foreigners from all over the world.  As we studied the main religions of the world, I noticed that they were basically different ways of people trying to avoid going to hell and reach heaven through good works, whether it was following the five pillars of Islam or attending a temple or church.

Private School. I am the last one on the right.

Religions of the World

While I was at the private school, I had two close friends, one from Bangladesh and the other from Italy.  We would often walk around the school grounds discussing the different religions of the world.  We wondered why there were so many different religions and which one was the right one to follow.  After all, the country I was born in was predominantly Muslim but with many Buddhists and Hindus as well.  I, of course, thought I was a Christian because as a child, I would occasionally attend Sunday School.  I didn’t attend the mosque on Fridays or go to a Buddhist or Hindu temple to worship.  I believed in God and that Jesus was the Son of God who was born in a manger and died on a cross.  As a family, we loved celebrating Christmas and Easter.

Nagging Fear Despite Praying Every Night

I even prayed to God every night and would ask Him to forgive all my sins.  My nightly routine was to list off my sins and end the prayer with, “Please God forgive me for any sin I might have forgotten about” to make sure I covered my bases.  I would fall asleep hoping God had heard my prayer.  However, I always had the nagging concern, “What if I sinned in the morning, died in the afternoon, and never got to pray at night; would I go to heaven or hell?”  I had no real peace.

Moving to Canada

The private school ended in grade 8 and everyone would head overseas to further their education, usually in a boarding school in England or Australia.  My parents felt it was time to leave the country, and we ended-up moving to Richmond, British Columbia.  During my last year of school in Malaysia, my classroom teacher invited us to her church a few evenings where we watched the series, “Thief in the Night”.  It was all about the second coming of Christ, and now I had a new worry.  Little did I know that God was preparing my heart to hear the gospel, the good news of salvation.

Hearing the Gospel for the First Time

Celebrating Mrs. Funston’s 90th birthday, and always thankful for her sharing Christ with me.

We bought a house opposite Mr. and Mrs. Funston who showed us much kindness such as lending us some furniture until ours arrived.  It wasn’t long before we were invited to a series of children’s meetings where I heard the gospel for the very first time.  Growing up in Malaysia, I already knew I was a sinner, but I never knew that the reason the Lord Jesus came into this world was to die on the cross for my sins.

Asking the Most Important Question

On the drive home one evening, I remember asking Mrs. Funston, “When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, did He die for all my sins?”  Her affirmative answer was the best thing I had ever heard!  There wasn’t a specific verse that spoke to my heart, and I don’t remember the exact date I got saved.  However, I do remember thanking God that evening for sending His Son to die on the cross for all my sins: past, present, and future sins! I finally had peace knowing I no longer had to depend on my nightly prayers to get to heaven.

I later got the assurance of my salvation through different Bible verses such as –

The wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

As I grew up in Malaysia, I knew the truth of the first part of this verse, but it wasn’t until I came to Canada that I discovered the truth in the second part of the verse.  The promise of eternal life was a GIFT through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.  At the age of 13, in my simple faith, I simply reached out and accepted that most wonderful gift, the gift of eternal life.

I learned that salvation was not through a religion but rather through a person.  The Lord Jesus said:

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

I am so thankful that He rose again from the dead and could say, “…because I live, you shall live also” (John 14:19).  I am so thankful that God loved me so much that He was willing to send His Son into the world.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Christ died for me!  Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Derek Lam and his family live in the Lower Mainland, B.C.  Derek is a school administrator at an elementary school and since 1982 he has enjoyed the fellowship at the same Christian assembly where he was saved. He is so thankful for the day a kind lady from across the street knocked on his door and shared the most wonderful news he had ever heard in his life.  “Jesus died for all my sins!  Hallelujah, what a Saviour!”