|
“With God nothing shall be impossible. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever." Luke 1:37
I had been a missionary in India for many years, having worked in three different States. Of the many experiences I had, the term spent in Andhra Pradesh held the most remarkable. Outstanding miracles of divine healing proved to be what God used to touch hearts. The Hindu people with their multiplicity of idols knew nothing of the power of the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Although I was not in the area at the time of the following incident, I became acquainted with this story and witnessed the results of the miracle.
* * *
“There is nothing more that can be done. Take your daughter home to your village. She will die within a few hours,” announced the sympathetic doctor. He had done all within his power to save the girl.
“Ay-ooo, Ay-ooo” Alas, Alas! The mournful, heart- rending wails filled the air, as the distraught Hindu mother and father emerged from of the hospital where their twelve-year-old daughter had been for a week. Weeping inconsolably and bending over at the waist, as if in acute pain, the mother let down her long black hair, beating on her chest repeatedly with her fists. “My baby! My child!” All hope was gone!
A hospital attendant carried out the small limp body and laid her into the waiting rickshaw. Totally unconscious, the child could not be aroused. Instead of her health improving since she had been in the hospital for the past week, she had rapidly deteriorated.
Soon a curious crowd had gathered around the devastated grieving parents. Ladies began weeping along with the child's parents, as they wailed, “My baby! My only child! Ay-ooo, Ay-ooo!”
Just then, observing the despair of the sorrowing group, a man approached. “Wait! There may be one hope." Pointing in the direction beyond the town, he said, "Over there, there is a Christian Church. They pray to their God for sick people, and many, many people get healed from all kinds of sicknesses. Why not go over there and have that Pastor pray for your child?"
Willing to grasp at any straw of hope, the group accompanied the man who had made the suggestion. He lead them across town, with the unconscious dying child in the rickshaw. Not thinking beyond hope for their dying daughter, they followed the man. They had never heard of Christ, or Christianity, or Church.
The Sunday service had just gotten under way at the compound where the church was, when the group arrived. Pastor Rakshana was leading the congregation in the singing. Hearing a great commotion just behind the church, he motioned to Assistant Pastor Lazarus to go out to see what was going on, and if need be, to settle the problem.
When Lazarus reached the small group, he was utterly shocked. There on a cot, lay what appeared to be a dead body. The wailing parents approached the pastor, falling at his feet, pleading with him to heal their child. Lazarus, greatly shaken at the sight, rushed back into the church. Interrupting Pastor Rakshana he cried out: “They have brought us a Dead Body. What can we do?”
Pastor Rakshana immediately turned the leading of the worship service over to his assistant, Pastor Lazarus, and went to investigate.
The child's parents fell to their knees, grabbing at the Pastor’s feet, tearfully pleading for him to save their beloved child.
Straight away, Pastor Rakshana laid his hand on the child and prayed: "Lord Jesus, save this precious young life." Almost instantly, the child’s eyes quivered and her muscles began to twitch. She opened her eyes.
A ray of hope flooded the hearts of the distraught parents.
Pastor Rakshana said, “ Please stay right here. We're having prayers inside just now. When we finish our service I will come back and see you.”
As soon as the service was over, Pastor Rakshana returned to the group. The girl, in good health, was sitting on the edge of the cot, chatting with her parents. The parents, overjoyed, once again fell at the Pastor's feet. This time, to express their gratitude and joy.
Pastor Rakshana was able to tell them for the first time, about Christ Jesus and to explain the way of Salvation.
The next day the family returned to their own village, a long distance away. But after only a few days they returned. Like any twelve-year-old girl would do, the girl was skipping and running with delight. When ever possible from then on, they came to church. Illiterate as they were, gradually the light shone into their hearts. As they spread the news of the miracle of healing, many others started attending the church. The light of the glorious gospel shone into their hearts too. Yes! Miracles do still happen.
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Hebrews 13:8
© Evelyn Splane
Please visit our website: Gospel of Christ Outreach
|