Rescue

As I sit snuggled up in this chitenge-covered chair, drinking Ugandan tea, and listening to the pounding rhythm of the pouring rain it seems like the perfect time to compose another update.

However, I guess I shouldn’t really call these ‘updates’. Far too much happens in these long African days to effectively update you on all that happens. But I can tell you stories. Stories that have impacted me. Though this is a short one, it’s one I have wanted to share.

During my time here I have been reading through this book of Acts. (Following the example of my wise friend Brooke in Costa Rica). I thought it would be a neat way to connect with her, so that despite our great distance we are united as we simultaneously read about the lives of the world’s first Christian missionaries. Every morning I sit amazed, inspired by Peter, John, Paul, and the many others living astoundingly bold lives for the message of Christ’s life. It is something to emulate.

This past Thursday morning I read Acts 12. King Herod has arrested Peter with the intentions of putting him to death for the great disruption he is causing the Jewish faith by speaking out about the gospel of Christ. “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”(v.6)

Herod planned for Peter to be killed the following morning.

God planned differently.

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” (v. 7)

Peter follows the angel out of prison past the first set of guards, past the second set of guards, “and when they come to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it.” (v.10)

This account is stunning.

As I greet each morning with the encouragement of these fearless missionaries, who put their lives on the line for the chance to proclaim this saving truth. Who told thousands with fervor, that we can be saved by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and following his will. I am utterly amazed by the miracles God provides through their undying desire to make Him known.

As I finish reading this passage, put down my Bible, and contemplate the power of the God I serve; I begin to get ready for the day ahead of me. First on the list, is to meet with a man from the community to discuss potential job candidates for several recent openings with Zion Project. But the meeting became being much more than a simple exchange of job descriptions. This man had a love for Christ and ministry that was exceedingly evident by his overwhelming joy. His spirit was infectious. The joy he had in the Lord not only displayed like a light for all to see, but the flame of his passion was so strong that it couldn’t resist brightening the light of others.

After listening to him speak about his love for Christ and his love for sharing it with the people of Gulu I became quite intrigued by how his story began. Finally I asked: “How did you come to know Jesus?” He smiles a wide, full grin.

“When I was a young boy, I wanted to be a part of the army. To get revenge for killing my Father", he states. “But when the Rebel army (LRA) came to our village and insisted that I join them, I refused. They fired an entire magazine at me. 

But I was not hit once. 

He rescued me.” 

The LRA planned to kill him.

God planned differently.

We can read these stories, of miracles in the Bible like ancient myths. Incredible stories, but no relation to our daily lives.

I do not believe it was easy or painless to trust God in those moments. As Peter sat awaiting his horrific death lingering just hours away. As this man stood a young boy and courageously looked into the barrel of the machine gun telling the rebels “no”, I will not join your slaughtering militia.

The pain of trusting God in the midst of finding a tumor, ending a beloved career, loosing finances, or merely existing in the darkness of loneliness can be terrorizing. But what the Lord showed me on Thursday is that today he is the same God who rescued Peter from the jail cell. His miraculous saving power has not diminished over time, but our belief in it quite possibly has.

I want to trust God with the same degree of expectation in His deliverance as Peter. Who slept so soundly the night before his stoning that even the angel’s bright light was not enough to wake him. The angel had to strike him on his side. Good grief.

God desires to write our story. The plot may bring turns we never desired, or rescues grander than we could have imagined. But, if we agree to the privilege of walking with Him and trusting the author, our ending with Him will be purely magnificent.