This month, our meditation has been excerpted from the book entitled Bound to be Free, compiled by Open Doors. In the following passage, the account of Lung Singh (according to rumors, Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ) provides us with fodder for reflection and perhaps application:
In quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
In spite of the sorrow, a burial in Laos often looks like a celebration. Immediately after the death of the sick person, when the ceremonial dirges are over, there is a feast--apparently. Sometimes a film is presented in front of the house of the dead person, preferably a comedy. Inside, people play cards or dice, and there is drinking and talking. It looks as if they are trying to laugh away their distress.
Of course this is not the case. There is sorrow--great sorrow--and they show it when the dirges are sung. But after this, the spiritual world must be given the impression that the dead person has already been received by the good spirits, while the evil spirits must be misled by pretending as if nothing has happened--by means of a comedy, drink, and gambling games.
The night after the death, the so-called "death watch", the whole family sits around the dead body, while outside there is the film and inside there is the drinking and gambling. For Christians, the "death watch" is an opportunity to testify to the hope and eternal life through Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.
That is what Lung Singh did that night. Outside there was a high wind, and Singh looked worried. He called me to a "quiet" place behind the house. "Will you pray for me?" he asked. "The storm frightens me. I am not afraid myself, but I am worried about my wife and child and our little pile house. I want to stay here and testify, but I can't keep my mind on it." I prayed for him and Singh prayed too.
After we prayed, he got up and said: "Well, I can go testify in peace now." He had presented the problem to the Lord, and it was off his shoulders now. Childlike trust--mature faith--and a divine answer.
"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
A moment of consideration: This is not meant as a frightful tale, but is the sad truth for our times. The world largely lives with fear every day. There is angst about the economy, the coming election, corruption of the food we eat, looming nuclear war, repeated planned pandemics (e.g., COVID, monkey pox, oropouche virus, etc.) without seeming end, global warming, drought, possible invasion by Russia or China, and others. Fear has gripped whole nations and peoples, from Moses' time through our own; in Hebrews 12:20-21, the writer describes the time in Israel's history when the Israelites and Moses knew fear: "For they could not endure the order that was given, 'If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned. Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, 'I tremble with fear.'"
In Job 4:14, the writer describes great fear: "Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake." In Song of Solomon 3:7-8, Solomon described Nyctophobia (fear of darkness): "Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night." And in Acts 5:5,10-11 as Ananias and Sapphira were confronted of their sin, and each fell dead: "When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. Immediately [Sapphira] fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things." Even Lung Singh described, above, the fear of the storm--and the worry that such fear brought about. Were we to admit it, we might each describe misgivings and anxieties about the world in which we live. We would be in good company; yet, God's Word repeatedly tells us believers not to fear.
More than 100 times throughout the Bible, the Scriptures document God and His agents (prophets, leaders) telling the Israelites, and Christians, not to fear. Fear saps our strength, leaving us shorn of courage and abandoning us to subjection to our foes; but fear is a kind of bell...it is the soul's signal for rallying, according to Henry Ward Beecher. In our rallying, perhaps our mettle itself might increase. Marie Curie was once quoted as saying, "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." How will understanding our plight serve us to bring good from it? Joseph in the Bible recognized, as he sought to understand his being sold to slavers, (Genesis 50:20-21) that what people do against us may be meant for evil, yet God may bring good from the enemy's attacks, debasements, and intimidation. If we come to understand a predicament we are in, there would be two benefits, according to John Locke, who wrote that "the improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others." Any understanding that God provides to us within the tumult can be shared to help others understand too. Let us take heart in knowing our God and His loving intentions toward us.
How might the knowledge of God's Word help us? The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, (having had an epiphany of a sort) and was able to take some time to reflect on and understand the purpose of suffering. Romans 5:3-5 explains Paul's understanding of the purpose of suffering: "...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." This new understanding excited Paul, and he sought to share it with the Roman church. He said he rejoiced in sufferings, through the knowledge he had gained from the Lord. Suffering ultimately produces hope, and helps give us courage to carry on, according to the apostle.
In his book (James 1:2-4), the apostle James had a similar insight as he considered the many trials and challenges present in Christians' lives. Having experienced such trials of various kinds, he considered the testing of our faith that happens when we meet opposition of diverse kinds. Through these, he grew to understand, such testing instills resolute or dutifully firm and unwavering joy. It is this resoluteness of faith the leads us to be "perfect" and complete.
Lung Singh confessed, "The storm frightens me. I am not afraid myself, but I am worried about my wife and child and our little pile house. I want to stay here and testify, but I can't keep my mind on it." In this moment, he learned the truth of Philippians 4:6-7, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." and the power to be found in prayer. (James 5:16b) Lung was anxious for his family, and found it difficult to concentrate due to that angst. He was borne along on the prongs of James 1:5-8; though Mr. Singh was irresolute in his faith, he found strength and courage, and resolution through prayer. He was at peace, and was ready to testify to the Lord among his family. In prayer, Lung Singh discovered anew that God cared for him and his loved ones. (1 Peter 5:7)
Our Lord, in Lung's own epiphany of understanding, might have brought to mind Jesus' own words in Matthew 10:26-28: "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." As we look to the example of Lung Singh, apostle Paul, the apostle James, and especially the instruction of the Lord, let's be open to consider what good might come from the evil intended by our assailants who bring on their heels trials and suffering. Fear is our soul's rallying signal. God wishes to instruct us through our teachable moments amidst the fray. May we be apt students and learn what the Lord is teaching us. And, may we know joy in the testing of our faith through trials, and the value of hope through suffering if such is our lot (Philippians 1:29-30). In times of turmoil, the Lord asks us, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD." (James 1:18a)