Have you had a moment where eternity past and future meet the present and the deepest recesses of your soul are laid bare and profound truths are discovered through deep conviction and revelation of the Love of Christ?
I had a moment like that the other day and I wanted to tell you about it.
I just returned from Swaziland a couple days ago from a 2 week trip. One Sunday I went to a church we hope to bring into partnership with a church here in the US. The church service in the simple structure was typical – lively and crowded full of singing voices and in this case, familiar faces.
I was blessed when during testimony time one of those familiar faces walked forward to share. I wrote about Lindiwe on this blog a couple years ago. In June of 2009 her husband died suddenly and left her with 10 children.
She stood there humbly but firm before the church – quietly quoting the end of Romans 8 and relating it to her life. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, not powers, nor height, nor depth, not any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As she stood there telling us all that no circumstances in life can separate us from the love of God the picture of her life from two years ago came flooding back.
A gravel road leads to a dirt road that leads to a well worm walking path that leads to her homestead – a 2 room cement block home with two other mud walled and thatch roofed huts. The picture of her mourning in a dark room, children seemingly everywhere – some crying, some sick. The honk of the pick-up as the driver pulled up with the coffin carrying her husband and family breadwinner. The terrible sorrow I felt as we drove away.
Sitting in the church as I am sitting now in my home I was fighting back tears of amazement at the witness of strength and faith in the Love of Christ. This morning I woke early (jet lag) and read more about the Love of Christ in the Word and in an amazing book, “Renovation Of The Heart” by Dallas Willard.
Willard was referring to 1 John 4 as he talked about “perfect love casting out all fear.” I listed my deepest fears – fear of death from a terrible disease, fear of harm to my family, fear of my financial future, fear of the path that lies before me. I contemplated these fears in light of the Love of Christ and they, even for some moments, were cast away by the knowledge of His perfect love for me.
As I sat in the presence of a mighty God who loves me, I was struck by the fact that my fears are probably closely aligned with Lindiwe’s. Surely with her life story there is fear of death, harm, finances, and the way forward.
I remembered the picture I took of her leaving the church, greeting Pastor Mazia and his wife. Conviction rose over me as I pictured her long walk – miles – home from church along that same route I drove 2 years ago. And as she walks down that path through the gate to her home – her reality – she walks in the knowledge that nothing can separate her from the Love of Christ.
Thank you Jesus for your perfect that love that casts out all fear.
Thank you Lindiwe for discipling me that morning in church and this morning. I hope I can apply the Love of Christ to my life and fears as you have to your own.
Wow…her faith and strength are amazing! Her testimony takes on so much more power when you know her story – thanks for sharing and discipling us in the process.
What a testimony. Lindiwe’s courage is amazing. Thanks for sharing her story with us again.
Thank you for that reminder, Scott.
Beautiful!!