What An Appetite!

While I may not know exactly how you would react in the face of a cataclysmic event, I am certain in such situation, the least of your concerns will be to finish some complimentary refreshments, if you had just been served some. If you agree with me, as I believe almost every person would, then what on earth made a gentleman in an aeroplane that ran into a very strong turbulence, continue applying butter to the loaf of bread he had received moments before, while other travellers were frantically searching for help during the chaos that looked like an impending calamity? This true story was shared by a close acquaintance of mine, having heard the account while attending an advanced leadership course in Singapore. At the training, a faculty told of Nat (not real name), who, at the time, had oversight of the largest church in the Middle East, which was in Egypt. Once, while travelling by air, just as the air hostesses were serving meals, their plane ran into a very strong turbulence which lingered for a while. Expectedly, there was so much panic all around, with people, naturally, thinking that the plane was going to crash. As some were crying, and others praying and calling upon various gods amid the chaos and seemingly imminent disaster, Nat was at peace! He said that during the panic, he looked outside the window and noticed that they were flying over snow-covered mountains. He thought, if the plane were to crash, he was certain of where his spirit was destined, there and then. Consequently, he felt inexplicably at peace, and so decided to continue with his refreshments. As he took the bread with the butter inside it, and proceeded to eat, the woman sitting by his side who had watched his ‘bizarre’ actions all along, shouted ‘WHAT AN APPETITE!’ She could not imagine anyone eating under the seemingly hopeless situation. You probably agree with her. What was the need? Right? Wait a minute, before you quit reading this note, let me tell you of another similar real life account centuries earlier. Thereafter, we can check if you have it all under control, should, or rather, when, the chips are down. For they will surely be, it is just a matter of time, and place. Mr. Wesley In late 1735, a ship made its way to the New World from England. On board was a young Anglican minister, John Wesley. A company of Moravian immigrants were also on the vessel. During a terrible storm, they all faced the danger of shipwreck. Wesley wrote in his journal: “At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Here was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger and revenge. During the Psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered the ship and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on.” In fact, Wesley was confused by the experience, but his perplexity was to lead to a period of soul searching. He continued: “I asked one of them afterwards: ‘Were you not afraid?’ He answered, ‘I thank God, no.’ I asked: ‘But were not your women and children afraid?’ He replied mildly: ‘No, our women and children are not afraid to die.’ And the Moravian responded with a question: Did he, Wesley, have faith in Christ? Wesley said he did, but later reflected, ‘I fear they were vain words.’” In Georgia, John Wesley sought spiritual counsel from the Moravian Bishop, A. G. Spangenberg, who launched some challenging questions of his own. “Have you the witness within yourself?” the pastor asked John. “Does the Spirit of God witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?” Wesley didn’t know what to say. “Do you know Jesus Christ?” the pastor pressed. “I know He is the Savior of the world.” “True,” the Moravian responded, “but do you know He has saved you?” John Wesley was clearly a very religious man. What was it that gave those Moravians such confidence in the face of death? How could they sing joyfully when others were shrinking with fear? Whatever they had, John Wesley feared he didn’t have it. Back in England in 1738, John and his brother Charles became intimately acquainted with the Moravians, especially Peter Boehler who later became a leading Moravian bishop. On May 24, he had an experience that changed everything. He described the event in his journal: “In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Suddenly he knew that Jesus had saved him from the law of sin and death. “It pleased God,” he wrote later, “to kindle a fire which I trust shall never be extinguished.” Here we are! Now may I ask: are you afraid for yourself or a loved one? Are there things bothering you, unknown to any other mortal being? Are you terrified by anything? Can you not sincerely and confidently say that you are assured of a peaceful rest after your life here on earth? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, I have words for you. Like Nat or Wesley, there is only one person who can help you if you will ask Him. Only one person! His name is Jesus. Irrespective of efforts to take away from His uniqueness, He is real (John 14:6). If you will only trust Him, He will help you, He only can help you. He wants to reach out to you. Would you like to make peace with your creator (Romans 5:1), your God, right now? Jesus, He only is the mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:12), no other! Come to Him as you are. Come, He is waiting (Revelations 3:20). Come, lay down your burdens (1 Peter 5:7). Come, surrender to Him, until the Spirit of God can witness with your spirit that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16), until you can say confidently that He has saved you by His grace, and that your name has been entered into the Lamb’s book of life (Revelations 20:15). If you will like to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus, please do the following: confess your sins to Him, for we have all sinned (Romans 3:23); repent and forsake them all (1 John 1:9); invite Jesus to be Lord of your life from henceforth; and, ask the Holy Spirit to come and live in you (John 14:16), and also empower you to live the victorious Christian live (Acts 1:8). In addition to all these: get a Bible, and read it daily; commune regularly with the Lord in prayers; and, join a Bible-practising church, where you can learn more about Him, serve Him, and fellowship with other believers. If you do these, I can assure you that His peace that passes all understanding will rule in your life, and keep you going, irrespective of situations. Also, He will be with you always (Matthew 28:20), and, eventually welcome you to the place He is presently preparing for all His people, including you. Awesome (1 Corinthians 2:9)! Isn’t it? See what He says: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also ... Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” – John 14:1-3, 27. He is coming again and that very soon! (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Believe Him.