Our little congregation lost a dear saint this week. Dali had a gentle, playful spirit. She was youthful, in spite of chronic illness. She was steadfast in her faith, trusting God in the face of immense trials. The day before she died, she said, "If this sickness is going to kill me, I wish it would hurry up and do so." But her words were not words of one who has no hope. She knew that when she died, she would enter glory. She knew her suffering would be finished. She knew that she would finally meet her Savior face to face. Her unwavering trust in God has served to strengthen my faith.
Dali's husband, Nestor, is equally steadfast in his faith. He and his wife have been shining lights in our little community. We can never be absolutley sure of another's salvation, and I often wonder how many true Baka believers we have in our little church, but because of the fruit I have seen in their lives, I have no doubt that Nestor and Dali's faith in Jesus is sincere. Though Nestor is my little brother in the faith, he has been in the position to instruct me on more than one occasion. His knowledge of the Word of God and his wisdom are true gifts to the church. He is the only qualified elder in our area, and he joyfully and faithfully completes his pastoral duties day after day.
It strikes me that, humanly speaking, Dali's death does not make sense. Why did God allow her to suffer so much? Why did she have to die? Why couldn't she experience more earthly blessings? Why did God take her away from her husband and her daughter so early?
This seeming inconsistency is not lost on the members of our little church. Nestor, pastoral even in his immense grief, told me that some of the members of our congregation are experiencing destructive doubt. They have been saying things like, "Look how she trusted God. She refused traditional healers and forest medicine. But how has it benefited her? Now she is dead. She was never truly healed. Who is this God anyway? God who!? God who!?" Some of them are experiencing a crisis of faith. Others seem to have completely lost their faith in God. Nestor has a genuine concern for his congregation. He desperately wants them to understand that God's ways are higher than ours, His thoughts are beyond our comprehension, His love for us is greater than we can imagine. He desperately wants them to trust God wholeheartedly. What an example of unwavering faith! In the midst of his sorrow, his concern is for his sheep.
Could it be that Dali's suffering is the very reason that her faith was so very strong? Did her illness and sorrow give her a better perspective on the temporal nature of this fallen world? Did she understand better than most that there are much greater things waiting for us after this earthly life is over? We know that Dali is finally healed. She is at rest. She is with Jesus. It gives me great joy to know that my friend has finished the race, that she is finally home. Her labors are over. Her pain is finished. She has no more tears to cry. Sorrow is but a distant memory for her now. It is my hope that others also enjoy the peace of knowing that Dali is not lost in death, but rather alive in Christ!
Dali was an exceptional person. She was one of only a handful of committed Christians among the Baka. Her loss is a huge blow to the ministry here. ...or maybe not. Perhaps God will use the doubts and fears of those who knew Dali to bring them closer to Himself. Perhaps loosing one who's faith was so strong will serve to strengthen the faith of others. Perhaps sorrow and doubt can be turned upside down.
Now is the time to pray for hope. The Baka live lives filled with hopelessness. God wants to give them hope. My fervent prayer is that sorrow and doubt would be turned upside down, that they would be transformed into hope and steadfast faith in the Faithful One.
I already miss Dali's laugh, her smile, her love for babies… I miss the little things like the way she would rub her feet together when she was sitting. I miss her steadfastness. I miss my friend. But I will see her again when we are reunited in Christ. Oh glorious day!!
No comments:
Post a Comment