Process of Salvation – Part 5 (Continuation from Part 4) (Open Letter pages 41-43).
I experienced many things, I saw and understood many spiritual realities which You showed me … yet, I did not know that that was, in effect, only the beginning of my transformation! I did not know that, in the meantime, You, as it were, “squeezed me through the straight gate” and took with me many steps along that new way, that unconventional way, that totally untraditional way – the NARROW way.
I did not know that one can practise a living Scriptural Christianity outside of organized religion. I certainly did not know at that time that You can take a man from the religious “merry-go-round”, put him on solid ground, give him plenty of time to recover, to regain his balance, to stop his head twisting, to make him truly still – and then show him very simply that – YOU ARE GOD!! (Ps.46:10) Indeed!
I did not know many things, Lord. And yes, I must admit that I even missed the most important spiritual and physical fact that You began to do for me and in me more than three years before my departure from that church. You did give me adults to teach! And I had not noticed! The only feeble excuse I dare to present is that they all were from outside the church. And I began to teach them outside the church, in my own house, whereas my desire was for the adults within the church.
Nevertheless, shortly after I obeyed and went and collected Sunday school offerings and counted the presence, You gave me adults to teach. Outsiders, people from the world including a would-be Jesuit priest. And I truly had not noticed. Three years before my departure from the church, You began to build a “vehicle” which would later ensure the continuation of my transformation outside of organized religion. And not mine only, but the transformation of anyone whom You would later add and who would be willing. As I look back I must say, Lord, that this transformation has not only been something marvellous but also beyond human understanding.
You caused me not only to teach, You caused me to teach even “The Spiritual Man” by Watchman Nee! You know, Lord, how many Christian leaders, Protestant, evangelical leaders, consider his books “very heavy reading”. Poor Watchman, no wonder his books are not found in any seminaries; they are not found in many Christian homes, and if they are, they mostly decorate bookshelves as the Bibles do in Catholic homes.
Yet, we went through the three volumes of his “Spiritual Man” in about one year. By Your Grace, we have been meeting for over twelve years, weekly and without interruption. We never had to “keep things going” nor had we ever tried to “keep things together”. This is also a testimony to Your work and Your faithfulness. Thank You, Lord!
(To be continued next week in part 6)
brother Hanola
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