After this past Sunday Service I was giving a lift home to a believer from our church. A very interesting story he had to tell.
He comes from Iran, was born into Islam, and became a Baptist, which resulted in him having to flee from death threat. He abandoned everything - a prosperous career, family (no, no wife, just relatives), and escaped on foot through the mountains to Turkey. To listen to this horror story was a lesson in humbliness for me.
One reads such stories in some books, even watches something like that on TV, but to actually sit across the table (he invited us - me and my son - for a cup of tea) and hear it face to face...
We read Psalm 23 together:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
(Psa 23:1-6)
He said that all that time in the mountains, when he was followed by soldiers and police, he felt LORD's presence, and the words of the psalm were covering him.
When I came to think about it today, the only adequate description that occured to me was "The Eye of Storm".
Think about it: we carry on with our cozy lives, nothing to be afraid of, the only possible inconveniece would be some frowny looks from unbelievers, possibly somebody calling us "silly", maybe some peole quitting saying "hello".(Psa 23:1-6)
He said that all that time in the mountains, when he was followed by soldiers and police, he felt LORD's presence, and the words of the psalm were covering him.
When I came to think about it today, the only adequate description that occured to me was "The Eye of Storm".
And many of us consider it a disaster? What right do we have to deny Grace on those premises, when there are real people who sacrifice everything, who risk their lives - for Him?
I am a "baby Christian", learning to obey and listen, learnig rapidly, having wasted my previous 45 years on stupid things. But it is already inconceivable to me how people can choose the comfort zone instead for a good fight path in Truth. Especially after listening to that man.
He was in the eye of a storm, literally, and felt safe, trusting God. Shouldn't we?
ann_in_grace
1Ch 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.
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