A friend of mine has been a missionary to Sudan for the past fifteen years. It is unquestionably one of the most hazardous places on earth for an American minister to labor. And when he comes home on furlough, his denomination showcases him as a modern-day hero of the faith for all to emulate and admire.
And who among us hasn’t been thrilled by the stories of saints like Brother Andrew, who smuggled Bibles into communist countries in the ‘60s; or David Wilkerson, ministering at the same time to the dangerous gang members of New York City? These are people who risked their lives for the sake of bringing the gospel to people in need.
Yet there is another kind of Christian hero that goes largely unnoticed on earth. I am referring to simple Christians who bravely invite God to transform them into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Like David did so many centuries ago, their cry to the Lord is, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) It is a most frightful prayer and should never be offered lightly.
Such a petition opens the door for the Holy Spirit to do a thorough investigation of one’s entire inner being: to expose and root out every noxious attitude, every prideful inclination and every selfish motive. And, of course, the unspoken “rider” to this petition is the understanding that the Lord will institute circumstances into the person’s life that will begin to purge this poison out of him.
This is no small thing for it is, in essence, the signing over of one’s rights to Another. In our legal system, every American possesses certain “inalienable rights” as a U.S. citizen. One individual may sign over decision-making rights to another, but this is only done in extreme circumstances (e.g. an incapacitated elderly person).
The truth is that when a person enters into a covenant relationship with God, he forfeits all rights of self-determination. In our current Church culture, it has become popular to proclaim all of the benefits of this relationship, but what are seldom discussed are the responsibilities that are inherent in it.
It is God’s prerogative to deal with His people as He sees fit and yet, true to His humble nature, He mostly allows believers to choose for themselves their level of intimacy with Him. Very few actually allow God the kind of carte blanche access to their hearts that will make for a deep relationship.
Those who do are rarely afforded on earth the degree of honor awaiting them in heaven. And their stories don’t typically offer the sort of thrilling exploits that are the stuff of biographies. Yet, in God’s economy, their courage is every bit as important. Such saints have a story that would thrill the holiest of angels because they have faced the most frightening thing one can encounter on earth: the truth about themselves.
While others are at ease in this world and satisfied with their current spiritual condition, these sincere saints are struggling through the great issues of the faith, fighting to lay hold of God in a meaningful way. They well understand what the psalmist meant when he said, “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) Theirs is a life of much struggle, but through it all, God is having His way in their hearts and in their lives.
Such people may not be paraded around by the great denominations of the day, but God will use them nonetheless—and it will all be to His glory!