A Christian testimony: The unconditional love of the Father

Just recently, I was reflecting on my recent stay in George, where I had the privilege of meeting a missionary from Zambia who had been visiting South Africa for a seminar. One Sunday evening, he shared his Christian testimony which began with a walk down memory lane where he speaks of his early childhood living with his family in a small village in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He narrates the story of how the rebels at the height of the civil war, invaded a classroom in their village and began opening fire on all the students present and only stopped because they had ran out of ammo. That is how he managed to survive from this tragedy and live to tell the story. Unfortunately, most of his classmates died that day and even his pastor whom he had become fond off perished succumbing to his bullet wounds.

He and a few others were then taken to a refugee camp in Malawi were he would finish his primary and secondary education. His dream was to become a musician and he later found his place in a church band were he would play the keyboard as well as sing in the church choir.

As he relates his story on how the Lord later allowed him to meet his wife when he moved to Zambia, my heart was filled with joy to hear of how God would use him also in the same village he is currently living in. It is within that village where he is one of the very few people who follow Jesús in largely Muslim populated community. At one point, God allowed him to share his testimony with his father during his emotional return to his home village after years in exile resulting in his father's conversion. His father passed away shortly after being born again.

The reason why this story is so significant to me is that while he has been able to survive death by a whisker, God has used his story to turn unbelievers to Christ including his family. Now for some of us, our relationship with God my seem so casual to a point that we even forget of the price that was paid by Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Many a people continue to die with each passing day, as a result of the gospel, most of whom never had the chance to give a Christian testimony of the persecution they faced. So it is always good to acknowledge those who labor amongst us and pray for them, wherever they may be.

Today, I found myself meditating on the book of James taking note of the fourth chapter. Verse 17 is one of my all time favorites which I often like to quote from time to time, which speaks of our lives being like a vapor, one minute you think you have it the next minute it is gone. So we can't really boast of anything because none of us has the capacity to add a single day to our lives. So let us be thankful that our Heavenly Father has granted us time to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven.

I thank you for reading this article and pray that it will be a blessing to someone. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we say Amen.

Be blessed.