Saturday, January 12, 2008

Traffic Signals on the way: "Warning-Unmarked Curves and Exits"

If you ever traveled at night, you probably appreciated signs that prepared you for the unknown on the road ahead. You were even more cautious if you came upon a sign that read, "Unmarked Curves and Exits" ahead.

During our missionary work in Thailand, which followed after our ministry in Korea, we experienced some unmarked sharp curves in our travels. Bangkok was our home and base for a ministry in Church Planting. To plant churches my late husband, Henry, began with tents. As people attended a Good News Crusade in their city, heard the gospel and responded, the nucleus of new believers formed a new church. Newly graduated Bible School students traveled to that city later and became the new pastors.

Church planting required careful driving in a foreign land, following a map and being prepared for the unexpected. To each meeting, our huge Hino evangelism truck carried a large quanset-type tent and its equipment, platforms and seating while a small Volkswagon followed with the organ, sound system, mikes, a generator for electricity, food supplies, correspondence material, banners, posters and sleeping bags. When fully loaded, driving the Hino to cities or remote areas was often a challenge because of winding roads and sharp curves. Usually signs were posted along the way to indicate when a curve or mountain was ahead.

Enroute to one Good News Crusade scheduled for the city of Trang in southern Thailand, Henry and his evangelism team drove several hours on winding roads, crossed a long narrow bridge and crossed a steep mountain. They usually stopped at the peak of the mountain to let the vehicles rest before descending down on the other side. The mountain was so steep that at times several clouds were actually below them as they drove.

On this ocasion, the meeting was successful. Many people heard the gospel clearly for the first time and joined the small church already in that city. After it concluded, the team decided to dismantle the tent earlier than usual, pack the heavy equipment and head back to Bangkok though it was after midnight. Singing and recalling all that happened in that meeting kept them awake and alert on the way home.

But, after crossing the last mountain and before descending down the other side, the usual sign, "Sharp Curve Ahead," was missing! Since no one saw a sign and everyone forgot this would be one of the last two dangerous sharp curves before the bridge, the evangelism drivers continued the descent at the same speed. All of a sudden the sharp curve appeared ahead! They remembered these were dangerous turns. They would have to make a sharp turn right, and immediately make a sharp turn left to enter the bridge. Heavily loaded and descending, it was not easy to shift gears quickly. They remembered if they missed that first curve at the bottom of the mountain, just ahead the truck would plunge into the river below. If they missed the second curve, they would miss the entrance onto the bridge.

In seconds, as they approached the first curve with the truck still descending, instinctively the driver made a difficult sharp right turn and a few feet away he made the sharp turn left, hoping to make the entrance to the narrow bridge. Seeing the possibility of not being able to slow down sufficiently, everyone prayed in desperation, "FATHER, HELP US! FATHER, HELP US!" As they prayed.....suddenly they realized the truck was at the entrance of the bridge, but it was straddling the entrance sideways and pressing against the cables that held it up on both sides. "How can we possiblly turn it safely in the lane to cross the bridge?" they asked. Suddenly, as they looked, the truck was turned away from the cables, and was in the proper lane to drive across safely! "What happened," the men asked? "How did the truck turn straight ahead so quickly without our help?" An Angel of the Lord had been dispatched as they prayed and in a second He took control, miraculously moving the loaded truck easily in place! It was a miracle! And they crossed the river without incident. On the other side, they stopped and everyone followed Henry in a march around the vehicles, praising God for His supernatural intervention. Fortunately there was no traffic on the road that night and they arrived in Bangkok safely. What a difference prayer made in seconds!

Warning signs can appear in a believer's life very much like signs that inform a traveler of "Unmarked Curves and Exits," especially if the believer has wandered away from God and is living with sympathetic thoughts of temptation and compromise. Warning signs are there for a believer's safeguard and guidance and they are to be heeded. If ignored, tragic and irrepairable consequences could result that would affect his testimony for years to come. If someone does not perceive his problems, God can speak into his life by His Word, and cause him to understand what He is saying.

How can one know God's leading so he can deal with the unmarked dangers or problems on his Christian journey? He can know by continuing steadfastly in the faith through prayer and a consistent Bible reading plan. God's desire for you is: "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." (I Corinthians 15:58) God gives specific insights and help to all of His children who obey His Word and make Him Lord of their lives.

What a difference signs or the absence of signs can make on our roads and highways.
What a difference signs can make in your life. What a difference prayer can make!
As you endeavor to live the plans you made for your New Year, ask the Lord for guidance so you will stay on course for your journey Home. We are nearing the end of this Race! Jesus is coming soon! Let's stay focused and ready!