Our eldest son Shanit (Shawn) was only 16 years old in 1996 when we had to leave him at a boarding school and go to America at the request of our supporting church to develop their missionary-in-residence program and raise more support for our mission. One day we talked to him when he had returned from a 70-mile hike on Mt. Everest. The next morning we received a frantic phone call: “This a life and death situation. Your son is afflicted with a rare disease called ‘Guillain-Barre Syndrome.’” Shawn had been transported to a strange hospital 850 miles from home. When we arrived, he was the only conscious patient in the ICU room where most people were taking their last breath. When he saw my swollen eyes and uncontrollable flood of tears he said, “Mom, why are you crying? I am going home one way or another.” Through his faith God consoled me and gave me peace. Our son knew his heavenly Father and was not afraid to face anything—even death.
Today’s Picture
As I look around I witness the shocking changes in our society and in many churches that are trying to please the individual, creating a confusing snare of political correctness and encouraging compromise with the essentials of God’s truth. Thus no one is satisfied and nothing is justified by the law of God.
Add to this advancements in technology that have left many people disturbed and restless. They need someone who can sanctify them and lead them back to the essentials. They need to be taught to say, “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:33-37).
The Need of the Moment
We desperately need leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah who repented for the entire nation. We need leaders who can set good examples at home, in the community, and in our churches—“shepherds after [God’s] heart who will lead . . . with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15, Acts 20:28-31). We don’t need to compromise because we know the truth. Let’s proclaim it and let the whole world know we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that keeps us away from our Father and his blessings. It’s up to us to become worthy of receiving. If we don’t, we will lose it for eternity. |L
Dr. Sheela Lall is a native missionary in India. She helps direct Mid India Christian Mission and is principal of Dr. Vijai Lall Memorial College. Sheela and her husband David have three children.
