"Most Wanted" Christian Brother
The Bible tells us that there is great rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents. Christians rejoice too when this happens, but I have secretly wondered if other Christians ever tire of subsequently helping untangle the sordid strands that sometimes come to light afterward. Are they tempted to wish even that things had gone on just as they were, with sins staying out of sight, thereby avoiding the upheaval that repentance and restitution entails?
I thought of this yesterday when I heard the story of one man who is a faithful member of a Central American Anabaptist church. After he came to the Lord he began to make right many wrongs he had been involved in as a non-Christian. He has now begun the process of making himself known to American authorities who are seeking him as a murder suspect. He is still listed among the "most wanted" in a large West Coast city. I found his picture on the police department's website. I learned there that he is considered armed and dangerous and no one should attempt to contact him directly, but instead report his whereabouts immediately to authorities.
This picture of the man I'll call Juan is very different from the one I got yesterday from my sister-in-law, who has worshiped in this man's church. For the first time ever, Juan's "lines have fallen in pleasant places." His miserable childhood is behind him. The dangerous and high-flying life of a drug dealer is in the past. The relationship he had with a beautiful woman in America (who aborted two babies against his wishes) ended with him taking her life. Right after he committed this heinous crime, he turned the gun on himself and could not pull the trigger, try as he might. Instead he fled across the border, leaving behind two motherless little girls he loved as his own. He now has a Christian wife and young child in a quiet Central American village and he fellowships and worships with peaceable Christians.
Knowing what justice calls for in this case, what pastor or Christian friend could journey with Juan without grief and dread? Even I, who never knew him, grieve for him and his family and his church people.
I take comfort in hearing that his life is blessed now with inner peace. His fruits of repentance are beautiful. He is a blessing in his brotherhood and community. I understand too that his eternal destiny will be everlasting joy instead of eternal torment.
In my imagination (or is it with my eyes of faith?) I can believe that everyone who hears this story or is involved with the case will glimpse something of the grace of God. The detectives who first viewed the DVD recording of his confession spoke of it as being very moving. This was only the beginning of the story's telling.
Juan first began to actively seek peace with God when his baby was deathly ill in the hospital, and he encountered a group of Christians who came there to sing. The baby recovered and Juan later came to Christ through continued contact with the people whose songs he had heard. I'm confident that not one of these singing people believe it would have been better to leave Juan's sins undiscovered and therefore unforgiven and unremedied. Least of all, Juan himself. Each untangling of his past wrongdoings has no doubt been painful all around, but afterward, the remaining lump is smaller and less burdensome. Someday nothing unconfessed will be left, and all that was there will have been dealt with. Each step brings him closer to that point, and God forbid that any of us would hinder the process, thereby limiting Juan's ultimate freedom.
When one sinner repents, Christians can join the angels in unrestrained rejoicing. The God Who brings a person to repentance will not forsake that person through the process of restitution, and those who come alongside will witness the grace and glory of God as it unfolds. I am confident of all this, but I will be prayerful too. Even a "Most Wanted" brother is entitled to that.
I thought of this yesterday when I heard the story of one man who is a faithful member of a Central American Anabaptist church. After he came to the Lord he began to make right many wrongs he had been involved in as a non-Christian. He has now begun the process of making himself known to American authorities who are seeking him as a murder suspect. He is still listed among the "most wanted" in a large West Coast city. I found his picture on the police department's website. I learned there that he is considered armed and dangerous and no one should attempt to contact him directly, but instead report his whereabouts immediately to authorities.
This picture of the man I'll call Juan is very different from the one I got yesterday from my sister-in-law, who has worshiped in this man's church. For the first time ever, Juan's "lines have fallen in pleasant places." His miserable childhood is behind him. The dangerous and high-flying life of a drug dealer is in the past. The relationship he had with a beautiful woman in America (who aborted two babies against his wishes) ended with him taking her life. Right after he committed this heinous crime, he turned the gun on himself and could not pull the trigger, try as he might. Instead he fled across the border, leaving behind two motherless little girls he loved as his own. He now has a Christian wife and young child in a quiet Central American village and he fellowships and worships with peaceable Christians.
Knowing what justice calls for in this case, what pastor or Christian friend could journey with Juan without grief and dread? Even I, who never knew him, grieve for him and his family and his church people.
I take comfort in hearing that his life is blessed now with inner peace. His fruits of repentance are beautiful. He is a blessing in his brotherhood and community. I understand too that his eternal destiny will be everlasting joy instead of eternal torment.
In my imagination (or is it with my eyes of faith?) I can believe that everyone who hears this story or is involved with the case will glimpse something of the grace of God. The detectives who first viewed the DVD recording of his confession spoke of it as being very moving. This was only the beginning of the story's telling.
Juan first began to actively seek peace with God when his baby was deathly ill in the hospital, and he encountered a group of Christians who came there to sing. The baby recovered and Juan later came to Christ through continued contact with the people whose songs he had heard. I'm confident that not one of these singing people believe it would have been better to leave Juan's sins undiscovered and therefore unforgiven and unremedied. Least of all, Juan himself. Each untangling of his past wrongdoings has no doubt been painful all around, but afterward, the remaining lump is smaller and less burdensome. Someday nothing unconfessed will be left, and all that was there will have been dealt with. Each step brings him closer to that point, and God forbid that any of us would hinder the process, thereby limiting Juan's ultimate freedom.
When one sinner repents, Christians can join the angels in unrestrained rejoicing. The God Who brings a person to repentance will not forsake that person through the process of restitution, and those who come alongside will witness the grace and glory of God as it unfolds. I am confident of all this, but I will be prayerful too. Even a "Most Wanted" brother is entitled to that.
posted by Mrs. I at
6:37 AM
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