Can you explain the connection between past karma and meeting a saint, as detailed in the story of Laxmichand in Chapter 28?

Chapter 28 establishes a direct link between a person's accumulated merit and the opportunity to meet a saint like Sai Baba. The text states that when the good karma from many past births comes to fruition, one attains the company of saints. This sacred association then serves as a catalyst for spiritual progress. As described in the context of Laxmichand's journey, meeting a saint destroys the 'darkness born of delusion,' ignites the 'fire of discrimination,' detaches one from worldly enjoyments, and ultimately leads to the destruction of accumulated karma, making one's life successful.