For Mthobisi Rato Dlamini, life once revolved around football, relationships and the pursuit of pleasure. But beneath that lifestyle was a young man who carried unanswered questions about life, death and what happens after we leave this world.
“I was a footballer and I loved dating a lot of girls, which made me think that nothing else mattered other than those things. Little did I know that I was perishing,” he says. His greatest struggle, however, was the fear of death and what happens beyond this life.
TRUTH
“I had no peace. I mostly feared what would happen to humankind when we all die. What would the world look like when we all leave this earth? I had no answer because I had not accepted Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life.”
His turning point came in May 2018 at Nyakatfo in the Northern Hhohho Region, when Blessed Mountain of Glory held a tent crusade in the area.
Dlamini had been invited by his friend, Prophet Mazwi Mhlanga. He had rejected Mhlanga’s invitations throughout 2017, because of his commitment to professional football, which also demanded that he be available on weekends.
But one day, he finally went. Ironically, he says, his intentions had nothing to do with seeking God. “I had planned to go and get one girl to add to the ones I already had. But when Mhlanga invited me to come over, I went to the tent and found myself seated and listening to the Good News. That was the turning moment for me.”
During the service, two Scriptures particularly touched his heart; Hebrews 3:7-8 and Deuteronomy 34:8. The message brought a deep conviction and caused him to look at his grief over his mother’s death differently.
“ I won’t forget the Word of God that touched my heart . It brought conviction because I stopped thinking only about my mother dying. There was new hope because Jesus Christ is alive.”
“I really don’t know what happened that day, but from that encounter, my life changed until today.” The encounter also changed the way he viewed relationships, his body and his purpose.
“I started seeing everything that God had spoken about in His Word. I found unconditional love and peace, and I understood that there is eternal life and that it is only found in the person of Jesus Christ.”
WISDOM
He says he no longer lives the way he used to. “I no longer do useless things. Being in Christ has helped me to take good care of my body, which is God’s temple; His dwelling place. I no longer date girls because I now know that God is love and that He is the one who opens your eyes to see and know the right partner for you at the right time.”
“Reading the Word of God has helped me to get wisdom so that I may be able to deal with matters of life. Praying has also helped me because that is where God has answered me when I feel worried about matters of life.”
He also says fasting has strengthened his faith and helped him hold on to God’s promises.
“I would say to you that God loves you and you are not far away from seeing the love of God. You can be saved. Everything begins from salvation. There is nothing impossible with God, just as His Word says in Luke 1:37.”
He encourages people not to give up, but to seek God for themselves. “Come, taste and see that the Lord is good. Don’t lose hope because God cares.”
I know you Mthobisi Rato Dlamini, we grew up playing unprofessional local football, same as Mr Mazwi Mhlanga , thank you for all you’re doing , the Lord shall grant you many blessings to save his beloved son Jusus Christ and Him alone . From Banele Mavimbela your home village brother.