Christ Is Victor
July/August 1999
Vol.12,
No.4
"The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind" Ps.
146:8
He was an unforgettable person. Short, stocky heavily built. He became blind
in his early childhood and eminent eye surgeons said that he would never see
again.
It was through one of the doctors of the Fellowship, a well-known surgeon
Dr. Jayasingh, he first heard of the love and
salvation of Jesus. He was gloriously transformed within. His life became
radiant, as hope lit up his life. Soon his eye began to see dimly. We called
him David.
The last time I saw him, he was standing about 30 yards away from the car. I
was in a hurry and was getting into the car wanting to get to my meeting on
time. David was too late to catch a bus, which would take him to the meeting. I
called out "David do you want to go to the meeting?" You can’t
imagine how he dashed to the car like a sprinter. No blind man dare run that
way. I asked if he could tell the colour of my shirt
and of my trousers. He could, and we were thrilled to see his eyesight
restored.
But the main thing is that in David’s short life on earth, (he died in
his early thirties), God gave him spiritual sight and he carried the Good News
of Jesus to many whom I could not reach. The story of healing and leap from
despair to hope and happiness gripped the attention of many.
How true is the Word of God, which says, "The Lord openeth
the eyes of the blind."(Ps.146:8) Who can open
the eyes of the spiritually blind? Who can send light into a darkened
understanding? The Bible says, "It’s the Lord who opens the eyes of
the blind."
When the Lord Jesus called the religious leaders of His day, blind men, they
asked in astonishment, "Are we blind also?" (John 9:40)
Of course no man likes to be called a blind man. Educated men feel that
education and this space age have really opened their eyes. But alas what blindness
has befallen men today. Materialism has blinded them. Their values are so
perverted that they appear to enjoy the total spiritual vacuum in which they
live. Of course it is an illusion. To be upon a rudderless ship, however
beautiful its appearance and interior decoration, without compass and chart
would be the most nightmarish and fearful experience that a man can know. What
is the good of a house loaded with things and a bank balance, weighs you down
with a consciousness of bigness, blinds you so that you cannot see where you
are going, ties you up with cares that you do not have a moment of peace?
Eternity is not something to be played with. A man who does not make certain
where he is going to spend Eternity is no more than a madman and a blind man.
Men are blinded too by pure, ugly, uncontrollable, raw, animal lust. No
woman is safe these days in high society circles. Why talk of the slums? Slum
ways have overtaken the societies. The immoral and unclean, the wreckers of
homes and the breakers of families are lauded as the most fashionable in the
land. Alas what blindness such a preoccupation with the flesh produces.
Social kissing is a most unwholesome development at parties and social
gatherings, for the ballroom is already the moral graveyard of many a
deflowered damsel and divorced dame.
It’s unpardonable and wilful blindness,
which neglects the family and stays out late, while the children cry themselves
to sleep, night after night. No wonder so many rebels; drug addicts and
anarchists fill the land. The broken home, produces an unceasing flow of
candidates for the prison, the nervous disease hospitals and the funeral homes.
A blind leader or preacher multiplies the number of widows, orphans and the
heart-broken in the community.
When you go to the Lord Jesus, He opens your blind eyes and you see your own
sinfulness for the first time. A recent letter to me said, "There is no
sinner like me, there never was and there never will be anyone so wicked as
I." Now that is the light of Jesus. Why should Jesus die for us if we were
all such good and gracious persons? No, if you still think you are a very good
man or woman, you are deceiving yourself.
I notice that men, who in company are extremely gracious to their wives,
snap at them at their dinner tables, threaten them with awful imprecations.
That is simply your wicked heart. And what an awful blindness it is not to know
your own heart.
I have to deal with murderers. Today I was reviewing the case of a murderer
who had beheaded his wife in public. The Lord Jesus opened his eyes in prison
when the Word of God was preached by some of our men. I have met another
murderer who simply could not see that murder was sin. He was that blind. Yet,
Jesus opened his blind eyes too.
The kid-loving sinner, with the practised smile
and the pleasing manners, is the one, whose eyes it seems most difficult to
open. He believes doggedly and hypocritically in the old myth which says,
"We’re basically very good people and we are all the time
improving." No. It is sheer blindness which makes you think that you are
pretty good. That’s what I used to say by way of bluff. But when Jesus
opened my eyes, I saw my wretchedness for the first time and my eyes were
opened too to look at the cross of Jesus. The light and love, which shone on me
from the cross of Jesus, removed the veil, and the darkness from my heart.
Then God opens a man’s eyes "to see wondrous things in His
word"(Ps.119:18). When you study the Bible before you go to work, God
begins to speak to you and opens to you His loving plans for you.
Running to seek the help of astrologers or engaging in idolatrous practices
fill your soul with darkness, which makes prayer impossible. The living God
will dispel that blindness which makes it so hard for you to see Jesus. All
over
Dear listener let Jesus open your eyes and your whole life will then become
so beautiful and meaningful. I am praying that you too will say with the blind
man of St. John Ch.9, "Whereas I was blind, now I see."
--Joshua Daniel
Benefits
of Buffeting
A young minister who had dedicated his life to helping humanity had been
placed in a large city, and had been working for the poor and needy. One
morning he took a mental inventory of his life, and the longer he thought the
more disheartened he felt. His clothes were threadbare,
his little room was bare and cheerless. His meagre
wage barely covered the cost of life’s necessities. As he sat on the edge
of his bed with those hopeless thoughts, he felt as some of us have felt at
times, that we have more troubles than anyone else.
In this discouraged and unhappy frame of mind he went to his work. That day
he would visit some of the poorest people in the whole city. They lived in tiny
boats tied along the river’s bank. In one boat he found an old man, sick
and blind, living all alone. There he lay in the dirt and squalor and filth on
his cot, with no one to care for him. It was plain to be seen that he needed
food and clothing; so, hurrying back to the city, the young missionary
solicited some food and wearing apparel, then returned
to the dingy little boat to minister to the poor old blind man.
He put clean clothes on the old gentleman, gave him some food to eat, and
tried to clean out the wretched little room. Then, kneeling down by the
bedside, he prayed that the Lord would bless and comfort the one so much in
need.
As the young minister arose from his knees, he saw tears
trickling down the old man’s wrinkled face. Mr. West turned his
dim, sightless eyes in the direction from which prayer had come and said,
"Young man, I have certainly much to be thankful for."
The young missionary was almost speechless. How could the old gentleman
think of a single blessing? "What!" he stammered, "Are you
thankful?"
"Yes," old Mr. West cheerfully replied; "There are many who
have always been blind, who have never seen the beautiful sunshine repelling on
the river; who have never known the beauties of the flowers, the green grass,
the trees, and the blue sky. But I am so thankful that I have been blind for
only thirty-seven years."
The young preacher felt ashamed of himself. When he had finished his visit
and walked slowly up the narrow plank that led from the boat to the
river’s bank, he was a changed man. His troubles were all gone. He
preached a short, terse sermon to himself as he walked the busy street-
"Young man, look here. You don’t have any troubles. Count your
blessings; and if you are ever blue and discouraged again, just think of poor
old Mr. West, and be ashamed of yourself."
Of course you and I have troubles, but what of it? Without trials and
troubles now and then, we would be spineless, weak-kneed and vacillating. The
oak tree roots the deeper for the storms and the winds that blow through its
branches. Stars shine the brightest on the darkest nights. Gold looks the
brighter for rubbing, friction, and scouring. Spices smell the sweetest when
pounded.
--selected.
Leading
Captivity Captive
"Thou has ascended on high, thou hast led
captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious
also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our
salvation" (Psalm 68:18 & 19).
God hath destroyed the enemy that He may load us with benefits. He led
captivity captive. The evil one came and took mankind captive. Jesus Christ
came and took the armies of the evil one captive. He took captivity captive. So
there is no fear to those who look up to Jesus.
Once David’s wives and the wives of his followers were carried away
captive while he was away. When David returned, he prayed to God and rescued
the captive women and destroyed the captors. Once enemies carried away all the
goods of the king of
Just think of how the wives of David’s men would have run to their
husbands who freed them. But we have not yet realised
the victory we have got. We feel we will fall into temptation. Oh, we fear so
much that we will fall! No, that is wrong.
"Captivity is taken captive!" The ‘prince of this
world’ who had taken us prisoners is now taken up as a prisoner. A sense
of mastery over human nature must be in us. Jesus conquered and so we will
conquer too. He will infuse into us the same victory as we look to the Cross.
"He loadeth us with benefits." What are
these benefits? -- Not the things of this world. These are nothing to a
spiritual man. The benefits are Christ-likeness, Christ-like nature and
Christ-like hope. "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John
As a Christian develops in the spirit, the Cross begins to fill his life.
The Cross fills his thoughts. To get any victory he comes again to the Cross.
It was at the Cross his resistance to God first broke down. It was there he got
a broken spirit. There pride leaves us and the spirit of humility takes hold of
us. It begins with a sense of unworthiness. We pray, ‘Lord have mercy’ –only mercy – only grace
– there are no merits in us for a plea. At the Cross all our
righteousness becomes filthy rags.
These are the benefits we are loaded with. First the sense
of unworthiness and then the forgiveness of sins and then the sense of victory.
‘He has overcome and so I will overcome.’ Why? -- Because His
nature has come into us. We are made into spiritual men to exercise God’s
power.
The Jews ate bitter herbs with unleavened bread. You will eat bitter herbs
but they will not make your life bitter. They ate bitter herbs, but that very
night they marched out of
Every thought of God --Every thought that God brings into your heart is a
great blessing to you and to those around you. As you go into His presence His
thoughts take hold of you, your will is strengthened and your affections are
directed. You are being shaped into a great personality. Let the Lord be your
standard. That will keep you humble and make you aim higher and higher.
No man who goes into His presence early in the morning and studies the Bible
will be satisfied with himself. Do not compare yourself with others and be
satisfied. Wherever you go remember that the first hour of the day belongs to
God, and you must be humbled there. The more you are hammered by the Word into
His likeness, the more your love is strengthened like the Love of God. Then
your healing and soul-winning ministry extends.
Moses’ word became power. He once trusted in his fist and was a
murderer but now he becomes the mouthpiece of God. He is loading us with
benefits. God is making you a magnetic personality which does not repel a
sinner but attracts him.
‘Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee; and I will
save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven
out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put
to shame’ (Zephaniah 3:19). Do not be afraid if people mock you, disgrace
you and drive you out. You have your rights with God. He will load you with His
benefits. One day the Lord will fill you with His Spirit and sanctify you and
send you out. You will not fail. Be loaded with the benefits of God at the foot
of the Cross on your knees with the open Bible before you. A man with the mind
of Christ is the strongest and the greatest man.
--Late Mr. N. Daniel
Say What?
"Lord, Who shall abide in thy
tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy
hill? He that walketh
uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."
Psalms 15:1,2
Bridging
the Gap
In a large tenement building in a poor section of
One tragic night the tenants of the large building were rudely awakened from
sleep by the startling sound of a fire alarm. Part of the great structure was
in flames. Sympathetic neighbours, who soon gathered
to the scene, quickly succeeded in rescuing from the doomed building all the
occupants except the three lads.
By this time the lower floors were a roaring furnace and all attempts to
enter proved in vain. So the eyes of the crowd were directed to an upper storey
window where three pale faces appeared.
Oh, the suspense of that moment! What could they do? Even as they watched
they saw them leave that window to reappear at another which was directly
opposite to the window of a closely built neighbouring
building.
Then they saw the older brother throw himself across the space between and
grasp the window sill of the next building, thus making a human bridge of his
own body. At his instruction, the two younger brothers, one at a time, crept on
his back over to the safety of the other building.
Now the crowd waited with bated breath to see the little hero save himself.
But his strength was waning fast and the long-taut muscles were too weary to
make much further effort. The horror-stricken crowd saw the brave hands lose
their grip and then the body hurled to the ground below. Gathering around the
mangled form, they saw the eyelids flutter open for a moment, revealing a depth
of thought beyond their years. They heard a last request from the pallid lips.
"Take care of my little brothers." With that uttering the noble
spirit fled.
The great display of human love, which melted many hearts
that tragic night, reminds us of God’s unmerited and immeasurable love to
us. Such love had its rich source in the heart of God and found glorious
expression in the seeming tragedy but final triumph of the Cross of Christ when
‘once in the end of the age He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice
of Himself’ (Heb
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent
His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
Negatively, we lacked love to God. Positively, we were sinners. "But
God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
Love begets love, and we who have put our trust in
the finished work of Christ, when He bore our sins on the Cross, can say,
‘We love him because He first loved us."
-- selected
A
Providential Escape
At Ediciones Las Americas, the Spanish publishing
centre for Central American Mission, three Mexicans held key staff
positions… administrative manager, editor and salesman.
One Friday morning Saul, the salesman overslept and would miss the 6
o’clock bus from Mexico City. That meant arriving in Peubla
thirty minutes late for work!
He caught the 6:30 bus, but only a short distance out of Mexico City it
pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. The passengers were told it
would be necessary to wait a while because the 6 o’clock bus had been
involved in a serious accident.
Thinking of his two co-workers who always took that bus, Saul ran to the
tragic scene. He was horrified. A large trailer truck had jumped the freeway
median, crushing the bus against another trailer truck. Everyone in the three
vehicles was dead. Saul returned to his bus mourning the loss of his two
friends.
In mental agony he arrived at the office wondering how to break the news to
us. The first person who greeted him was Jose, the administrative manager! Saul
was speechless! It was like seeing someone resurrected from the dead. How had
Jose missed the bus? It was simple. Jose and his wife had dinner with me the
night before and decided to spend the night in Puebla.
In a choked voice Saul said, "And Adollfo?"
He ran toward the editorial office. Could it be? He felt limp when he was
convinced that it really was the editor sitting at his desk. Adolfo had
awakened at 3 a.m. and felt an urge to spend time in prayer. Unable to sleep,
and thinking of the unfinished work on his desk,,
Adolfo took the 5:30 bus to Puebla. He missed the
accident! Coincidence? Christians know "the steps
of good men are directed by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23). Jose, Adolfo and
Saul, three men who narrowly missed death, also knew "My times are in thy
hands" (Psalm 31:15)
--selected