Friday, September 19, 2003
Friday, September 19, 2003
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him,
"Follow me."
For the ten years this church was closed the government used the building for a school. After
the death of the gang of four the building was reopened as a church in 1979. As Fox and Morris
walked into this magnificent church, one of the pastors invited them to move toward the front and
see the great pulpit. Behind the pulpit was a large cross cut into the marble and concrete. "You
see this cross?" the pastor asked.
"Yes," they replied, "it is beautiful."
"During the time the church was closed and turned into a school," the pastor informed them, "the
authorities took cement and covered the cross. They reasoned that since no one could see it,
no one would know about it." Then the pastor, taking a deep breath and breaking into a big smile
said with profound conviction, "We knew it was there all the time!"
In their hearts they could still see the cross. They knew it was there and they kept their gaze
fixed upon it. Good advice for us. For there are times when the waves beat around us and the
storm clouds make visibility very difficult. Jesus comes to us in our hour of need. He calls us to
step out in faith trusting him. If we keep our eyes fixed on him, he will not let us down.
(John 1.43
NRSV)
Evangelists Eddie Fox and George Morris returned from a trip to Shanghai, China, where they
visited a great congregation known today as Muen Church, which literally means Taking a Bath
in Grace Church. This congregation, along with other churches in China, was closed by the
Communists in 1969. It was a time of great suffering and oppression for Christians. Pastors and
laity were exiled and sentenced to hard labor. Christians were severely punished for practicing
their faith. During their visit with the pastors of the church, Fox and Morris were deeply moved by
the pastors' faith and integrity. They asked, "When you were exiled from the city, did you ever
dream of worshiping in this sanctuary again?" "No," each responded. "We thought maybe our
children would, but none of us ever imagined that we would pray or sing again in this sanctuary."
Lord Jesus, may my eyes always follow you. Amen.
