Through Gates of Splendor
I'm sure many of you saw the notice that on June 15, 2015 the woman we all knew as Elizabeth Elliott slipped out of this world to be with her Saviour. She was a prolific writer, a wonderful mother, a devoted wife, and a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. Her life was anything but easy. After losing her first husband, Jim Elliott to a martyr's death, she never flinched in her resolve to serve the Lord.
That day so many years ago was etched in her memory. She and Jim had gone to Ecuador to reach the lost with the Gospel. They were not even 30 years old. They had their whole life ahead of them. But, when they got to the field what no one knew was that Jim's "whole life" would be less than three years ahead.
I, like so many of you, have been captured by this story all of my Christian life. Since first hearing some of the Auca believers speak at an Easter Sunrise Service in the 1960's, to reading about them while in Bible college, to speaking to a dear friend who was at Wheaton College at the same time as they were, to following Elizabeth's close walk, I have always come away asking myself if I have the faith to do what she has done.
Today I want to ask you and me that question. Do we have enough faith to walk with our Saviour wherever that takes us? Will we trust Him for the steps ahead? Will we stay the course if that course becomes rougher than we imagined it could be? Will we finish our course with honor to our Lord?
Two of the martyr's names have long been remembered; Jim Elliott and Nate Saint. But, five young men died on that sandbar and five young widows were made that day. Though their names never became household names or wrote books that impacted thousands of lives, nevertheless they remained faithful to their Lord as well. Take a moment to look at the names of the five men below. Then, take a moment to Google those names to learn about them. Then, ask yourself, will I stay the course for my Saviour? Only you can answer that question.
Tags: Auca, Elizabeth, Elliott, faithfulness, Jim, Nate, Saint, Savior, Saviour
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