Do not throw away your confidence

We have recently been in Tamale for a week and on Sunday we visited a BCA church in a village close to Tamale. Abukari preached from Hebrews 10:32-36, ‘Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathised with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.’
 

Church gathering

It is always so touching how people in the smaller village churches react during the sermon to what is being said. Sometimes there is a short dialogue between the preacher and church members. Sometimes, after the sermon, people spontaneously get up to give their testimony and this is what happened on our visit this particular Sunday morning.

After the sermon a woman stands up and says, ‘Pastor, this sermon was really meant for me. When I became a believer my brother with whom I lived at that the time told me, “If you do not give up your Christian faith, I will never allow you to enter my house again.” It was very difficult but I knew that what Jesus offered me was lasting. Since that time I have never returned to his house. Other brothers tried to do the same and told me, “If you continue to follow Jesus we will never visit you again.” I could not say otherwise than I have something better which I could not give up for them. Until today, my brothers have never come to visit me. At times it is difficult and painful, but I do not give up!’

Two old women who come to church together and sit together on a small bench, also added their voices. One of them is blind, the other cannot walk very well. The blind woman says, ‘When we walked to church together this morning people laughed at us. “Ooh, you poor women, what is it that you want in that church of yours? See how difficult it is for you to reach the church (the church service is held in a school building on the outskirts of the village). Has Jesus healed you? You are still blind!” Then I tell them, “Jesus gives me sight, He lends me His eyes.”'  The other woman says, ‘It is not easy to climb the entrance to the church (you have to take a big step) but Jesus is my ladder!’

Another church member, Alhassan, told us of his experience. A few weeks ago he went to a funeral where he met many of his family members. They were accusing him of now ‘spoiling their brothers’. For him to become a Christian is one thing but now other brothers have also decided to follow the path of Jesus. How can they allow Alhassan to let their brothers become so bad. Alhassan explained to them that his brothers will rather become better and more beautiful people because God will change them inwardly. They start to argue. Whilst they are talking some girls pass by. They look so different from the other girls who are attending the funeral. Alhassan and his family members see the difference. They call the girls and ask them, ‘You look so different from the other girls here, why?’ The girls answer, ‘We no longer worship our traditional gods but have become Christians.’ Alhassan has for now won the argument but the family pressure remains.

Adisa also shared what recently happened to her. She too attended a funeral. Together with many other women she slept in a house built next to a Mosque. Early in the morning the family head woke all the people in the house up to come to the mosque to pray. Adisa did not get up, even though all the other women went. After the women came back, they asked her, ‘you did not pray, are you not going to pray?’ Adisa replied, ‘I already did.’ The women did not understand but left it there. Later in the morning they went to fetch water. They passed one of our beautifully built church buildings. The women commented, ‘What a beautiful building.’ Adisa, said, ‘That is where I pray.’ The women looked in amazement at her and said, ‘So you are a Christian!’ Suddenly they understood. From that moment on, none of the women spoke to Adisa again.

a girl on the way to the Mosque

Mosque

The last person who spoke was Mba Mohammed. He became a Christian a long time ago through one person who was always zealous for the Lord and very active in the Church. Because of his enthusiasm he drew many to Christ. But after some time this man said to Mba Mohammed, ‘I will quit “your thing”.’ Mba Mohammed responded, ‘what do you mean “your thing”, is it not “our thing", are you not part of us too?’  The man replied, ‘I thought Christianity would make me rich but since that has not happened I have given up.’ The man who drew so many to Christ himself had not understood what the ‘lasting possessions’ meant. Mba Mohammed has remained faithful and is now a leader in the church.

These are such encouraging testimonies! Testimonies from people who despite opposition continue to boldly hold on to God’s promise and are confident that what they have in Christ is better and lasting. What about you? Sometimes we take for granted who we are (our identity in Christ) and what we have (our possessions in Christ). As children of God, our ultimate confidence is in the undying love of Christ. So complete is our protection that nothing can “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).