Sometimes conversion seems to happen overnight or in an instant. But among most of the people I have worked with, I see signs that God has been laying the groundwork towards their full surrender for much longer. And when the person is ready to take that valiant life-changing step, what a day of rejoicing it is! Not only for them and for me, but I know there is rejoicing in heaven when one of God’s own comes home. In fact, we shared that joyful experience just today!
I have the privilege of leading a growing group into a deeper walk with Jesus, experiencing together what I believe church is meant to be. We hold each other up in prayer, encourage each other through the trials of life, praise God together for the changes we see Him working in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray, share personal responses to our Bible lessons and share meals together.
As they each share what God has been doing in their lives the past week, I’m often thrilled to hear the responses from the others in the group. Their understanding is deepening, and their walk with Jesus is becoming stronger. Listening today, I marveled at the responses my witchdoctor friend Abew was giving to the others’ insights, and I felt moved to ask him a pivotal question.
Abew’s wife was baptized at our Palawano camp meeting in April. He was with her in her final interview before the baptism, and he spoke eagerly, sounding as if he, too, wanted to be baptized. But upon further questioning, he said, “No, I’m not ready to give up my witchdoctoring yet.”
So, during this particular prayer meeting, after some time of discussion and praises, I felt led to ask Abew a question. “Maman (Uncle) Abew, if I may, I would like to ask you something.” I went on to describe to him what I was hearing—his expressions of faith in Christ and his encouragement to others to trust Him. I told him I had heard him admonishing people not to stray from the faith and do contrary to God’s word. Further, I had heard him express dismay that he and all the ancestors had not known this truth before and how much pain it would have saved them.
“Maman,” I said, “what I’m hearing you say today makes me want to ask you again the most important question of your life. Are you, this day, prepared to give up everything for Jesus? Are you prepared to give up your witchdoctoring, your anger, your reluctance to follow Christ completely?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I’m ready. How do I do it? Do I need to lay prostrate on the floor?”
“Maman, all you need to do is humbly kneel at Jesus’ feet, confess your sins and ask Him to come into you and be the Lord of your whole being. And He will come in. He will forgive you.”
And so, wonderingly, we all knelt around Maman Abew as he gave his life to Jesus. What a day of rejoicing! His wife and daughter were in awe! Abew was ecstatic.
But, as I mentioned, conversion is a journey, not a destination. Though Abew has made this gigantic step, the battle isn’t over. He sometimes chooses to stay home on Sabbath (although he assures us he isn’t working). But whenever he attends Sabbath or mid-week meetings, he almost always has a miracle story to share of how God is working in his life.
We mustn’t give up on the stragglers. The Spirit is leading them step by step on a journey that is longer for some than for others.
