Not many people may know the sad, true story behind the song "No Turning Back" by Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor. The song is is same as the hymn "I have decided to follow Jesus".
We may sing it with joy and laughter but it is said to have arisen from a tragic story.
The hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” has its roots in a powerful and tragic story from 19th-century India, specifically from the Garo tribe in Meghalaya, India (formerly part of Assam). It is believed to have been inspired by the final words of a Christian convert, Nokseng who, along with his family, was martyred for his faith.
According to widely accepted accounts, during a period of intense persecution led by a local chief, this man was confronted and ordered to renounce his new Christian faith. In the face of death, he courageously declared:
“I have decided to follow Jesus.”
When his children were killed, he responded:
“Though none go with me, still I will follow.”
And as he and his wife were also executed, his final words were:
“The cross before me, the world behind me.”
These brave declarations became the lyrics of the hymn we know today.
The story deeply moved Indian evangelists, particularly Sadhu Sundar Singh, a prominent Indian Christian missionary, who is believed to have taken the words and worked with local Indian musicians to set them to traditional Indian melodies. Eventually, the hymn gained popularity across the global Christian world, carried by missionaries and revivalists.
Simple yet profound, the song is not just a melody—it’s a declaration of unwavering commitment and surrender to Christ, even in the face of death.
What would you have done if you were the one who faced this persecution?
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