Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen
All Rights Reserved
The
paths of glory lead but to the grave.
- Thomas Gray,
1716-1771.
In Christian work, for me there is quite no
bravery like the bravery of the full-time missionary in a foreign land. How we sometimes marvel at the decades of
backbreaking work by men and women sold out to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Years
of learning an often difficult foreign language trying to master grammar, syntax
and accent, and getting accustomed to the local food and customs while probably
trying to survive on a shoestring budget that cannot necessarily always be
guaranteed.
One hears of the brave exploits of resolute men
like David Brainerd, C.T. Studd and Hudson Taylor, and stand amazed at the valiant
deeds of intrepid explorers and missionaries like David Livingstone and H.M.Stanley (whose biographies read as racy as a typical Rider Haggard, Alan Quatermain adventure).
The mass-murder
of Protestant missionaries during colonial times (and also more recently) in
Africa is not an uncommon phenomenon, and the report of the sacking of Catholic
convents and parishes in darkest Africa not a stranger to the evening news. The
persecution of missionaries attached to among others the London Missionary Society, the China Inland Mission etc. during the communist revolution in China (1949) never fails to elicit shock and admiration from those who read those
stories for the first time. Yet, in
spite of it all, the non-negotiable ‘call of the wild’ still rings crystal clear:
“Only one life that will soon be past;
only what’s done for Christ will last.” After all, Jesus has solemnly promised:
And
whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose
his reward. (Matthew 10:42 ASV, www.e-sword.net).
What a profound invitation
below, a song that I’ve known since I was 14 years old in 1962:
Come To The Savior
(George F. Root, 1820-1895)
Come to the Savior, make no delay ‒
Here in His Word He’s shown us the way;
Here in our midst He’s standing today,
Tenderly saying, “Come!”
“Suffer the children!” O hear His voice,
Let ev’ry heart leap forth and rejoice;
And let us freely make Him our choice:
Do not delay, but come.
Think once again, He’s with us today ‒
Heed now His blest commands, and obey;
Hear now His accents tenderly say,
“Will you, my children, come?”
CHORUS
Joyful, joyful will the meeting be,
When from sin our hearts are pure
and free,
And we shall gather, Savior, with Thee
In our eternal home.
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Bibliography
1.
Andrews,
Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Newnes Books. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.
2.
Peterson,
John W. (1966) Great
Hymns Of The Faith. ‘Come To The Savior’. Favorites No. 6. Singspiration. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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