School Service Continues!
The month of April was full of activity at “our” school. God continues to reap and bless his harvest, the latest is another teacher, Mr. Zachariah we will call him. He didn’t participate in the classes we taught, but was found frequently outside listening to what was being said. One day, when I was teaching the 4th through 6th graders, Mr. Zachariah came into the class and sat down.
I was teaching about Abraham’s visitation by the Lord and two other angels (appearing as men). We teach moral precepts and God’s character through the history of the Bible by retelling its’ wonderful stories. The class, intently listening this particular day, as there was so many similarities to their everyday life: greeting of people of stature; the preparations that need to be made and sometimes in a hurry; and the roles of women and man. Especially similar is the joy of being hospitable, it remains the same today in Ghana as it was then many of years ago.
When the story turned to the Lord leaving toward Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord revealed to Abraham that He was going to destroy the two cities because of their sin. If you remember, the Lord and Abraham had quite a negotiation to relent His intent to destroy the cities. Finally the Lord agreed to spare these two great cities if only 10 “righteous” people were found in them! I ended the story on a cliff-hanger, would 10 people be found and would God destroy the cities?
At this point, God taught me something as I stood in front of the class. I was no better than any person to be found in Sodom or Gomorrah! My sin may not be the same as their sin, however I know my sin sentenced me to eternal death before a perfectly holy and righteous God! All thanks be to the cross that Jesus bore to bleed out for us, those who have righteousness imputed to us by our faith in Jesus Christ. So I told the class my thoughts; while it is so easy for us to point to the failures (sins) of others like Sodom and Gomorrah, in doing so, we elevate our self in the same breath by making our sin seem meaningless before God than what it truly is.
Whether it is gross sin of our bodies or the seemingly infinitesimal sin of our thought life, God sees both and will judge us guilty for His love for Him self and justice demands that verdict. Mr. Zachariah never took his eyes off me this entire time. He saw himself as God sees him. This is a humbling experience for us all, if only we would allow ourselves to see ourselves as God does, so we can really learn who we are from God’s perspective. God is gentle and loving, so when Mr. Zachariah saw himself in God’s Light, God opened his mind and heart to His Son Jesus Christ.
At this point, I asked all those who believe that they are no better than those in Sodom and Gomorrah, who have not given their lives to Jesus to be their Master and Savior, to ask God to save them and to place their life in trust to God. Mr. Zachariah prayed and was the first to stand up publicly to declare his faith in Jesus Christ. A bold move and one God will not ever forget and reward him for it.
I taught them a song that day too, Father Abraham, with all the body motions that goes with it. Thank God it was not recorded, LOL. I should retain some dignity, not! I loved it and think I was highly entertaining for them and the adults looking on in amusement.
At the end of April, I said my good-byes to all. We shared our disappointment of me not being able to stay, but confident that God is in control. The children are left in very capable hands. God continues to work through “Joel,” a solid Ghanaian Christian, and Leah to cultivate His love and moral precepts in the life of these little ones. Please continue to pray for their growth in godly living and in Christ. I continue to pray if God would have me return or be of service in other ways for I have a great love for the people of Tamale and Ghana.