M-G: 11.20.14 // Harry

Have you ever felt like you ran into Jesus physically somewhere along your journey through life? Beverly and I had the privilege to hear from a Christian humanitarian and scientist living in China, a lifelong friend of Dr. Michael Womack, last night at First Baptist in Cleveland, TN. Mike always described him as the most knowledgeable and humblest man he had ever known. After seeing and hearing him I understood what he meant; he was not exaggerating!

He reminded me of a particular exotic car that purred at idle but under the hood was a tiger: quick, agile, and powerful. Lest I mislead you with the metaphor, I said this from a spiritual point of view; he understood his slavery to the Lord and the authority given to him. He carried both well during his presentation. You get the impression; it was naturally supernatural for him! The presentation wasn’t what you would describe as a razzle-dazzle media presentation, per se, of the work in China, but it was professional and groaned with depth and heartache in the plain particulars of the spiritual situation there.   

I told him afterward that I appreciated his sharing his burden for the people of China, but he could not disguise his humility; his eyes gave it away at times. With thirty years in China, you cannot help but sense the tiredness in his eyes and his body language in enduring the loving struggle over the years with the enormous challenges in trying to reach a billion plus people for Christ. He revealed faith in Jesus never stronger and a passion for the lost that still raged like wildfire within his heart since the day he left American soil so many years ago.

He unnerved me with his calm, an almost sedated-like demeanor that danced along the edge of being monotonic; but there was no dulling of the senses here, only a revealing of a deeper river that flowed through our hearts and minds by his words; I was spellbound and hung onto everything that he had to say!

Mike was right about his beloved friend. We had the privilege to witness genuine faith in the heart and a sterling quality of humility rarely seen among God’s people. Here was a man more knowledgeable than most men; he possessed an ability that would have made him far richer and more comfortable in this world, but he esteemed the riches of Christ to be of greater value (Php 3:8)! 

What a pristine vision that could have only come from above and gladly been accepted by him, driving him to the other side of the world, leaving his own country, family, and friends behind because he knew God wanted him in China. The words of Christ come to mind (Jn 3:16; Lk 19:10). I was looking at a man not seeing “Made in China” on everything but desiring to see “Made in Christ,” on the hearts of the Chinese people, hoping in a new creation happening all over China (2 Cor 5:17).  

If God can transform this man’s life through His obedience to God’s Word, He can do the same for us who have a heart desire for a Rom 12:1, 2 experience. Jesus wants us to be like Him but not at the expense of our will – “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God” (NASB). What an appeal! What greater reason than the “mercies of God!” that we would/should obey Paul's words to the brethren in Rome. 

We might not be able to go to the further points of the globe to share our faith, but we can choose to be like Christ in the nearest points, obeying and following His lead where we are! God only knows where that would take us! Imagine for a moment if Jesus was standing there last night what it would have been like? He was – in Harry. <><