BUT DID YOU DIE

We just got back from a whirl-wind trip to Kathmandu, Nepal with a few objectives in our heart from the LORD. The first and probably foremost was to be with Pastor Tek Dahal (one of the two most humblest men in my opinion on the face of the earth) and the good folks at Gethsemane Airport Church and second visit the radio station Good News FM 105.1, which I kind of smuggled in (with the LORD’s help) to Nepal back in 2007 and it went on the air in 2008. At that time in the Country of Nepal there were only 40 churches which were started in part by the hard work, many prayers, and great sacrifice of the leaders of the National Churches Fellowship of Nepal (NCFN) back in 1959 from only seven families. Today there are over 500 churches in Nepal for the glory of God. Pastor Tek was a leader of the NCFN for three years. As I was told, one of the greatest contributing factors of the growth of Christianity in the Country of Nepal (except for the purposes of God) was the fledgling radio station which is the only Christian owned radio Station in South Asia and now on the air 18 hours a day for the glory of God. You see in Nepal if you are caught telling someone about Jesus you could be arrested and put in prison for one year, which is really a death sentence for most. If caught baptizing a Buddhist or Hindu you could be sentenced to prison for three years. As you can see there is quite a price to pay for sharing the good news of the Gospel with people in Nepal. Even passing out “Gospel tracks” is considered proselyting and if caught the same sentences hold true. In the early years it was the radio station that connected the churches directly and indirectly. They called it the connecting glue of networking. It was the platform on which the wondrous Gospel message could go forth to the masses, with the blessings from the government, and be used to share information within the collections of churches for services, special events, needs, prayer request, and so much more. Not sure about today, but in the early years Good News FM offered Public Service Announcements (PSA) on a variety of topics that improved the general heath and wellness (like how to brush your teeth correctly) of the people and even legal and financial topics. The Nepalese military even instructed their troops to listen, because of the family values, vital PSAs, and great music. And the third objective (that I knew of) was to be able to minister to some of the 4 – 5 thousand Chepang people up on Silinge Mountain, over 5,000 not so straight feet up, but what a powerful time we had. The Chepang are the second most undeveloped people group in Nepal. They are very separated and isolated people group because of travel time, village location on top of a mountain, and just sheer distance from anywhere, but I found them to be very humble and gracious. And like an onion if you begin to peel them back you will find they are just like you and I needing to be valued, appreciated, and loved which the Gospel message provides in the Person of Jesus Christ. The ministry of the Word of God was rich and powerful, oh how our hearts burned within us as we opened up the word of God to 100 or so folks assembled for the service. Even a herdsman brought his water buffalos and cows to see what all of the excitement was about. Our time upon Mount Silinge, in the valley, along the river bank was unforgettable, not because of our sacrifice in getting there, but because of their sacrifice of being there, building a place to worship and bringing the things needed to hold a service all to make our time worth the while and possible. I kind of knew what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians when he said, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) Even though we are different, in so many ways, still we are the same “in Christ” as long as we eat of His flesh and drink of His blood we will have the life of God in us to have communion of the Spirit one to the other that makes us all a part, not of a church, but of the “Body of Christ.” And oh, what communion we had. They served, sang, danced, and cooked while I preached and cried, a good trade off indeed. As with all things in God He knows how to silence our words and thoughts. There was another objective from God that I did not know about, but had more impact in my heart and life than the other three combined, which I am not minimizing. One of the places Pastor Tek took us to visit was a hospital, Thankot Hospice Center, the Chief Executive Director was Sunil Kumar Tamang. What a wonderful, very gracious and lovely man. When we arrived we were met with great courtesy. Director Sunil’s medical staff was very professional and heartfelt. We received the overview briefing of the hospital philosophy which I was very impressed with: death with dignity, no fear of death, and hope is only found in Jesus Christ. They do not give medicine to end life as many families’ request, but they care for their patients till the LORD closes their eyes in death. Now they could make a lot of money being a death mill, but they choose life. The hospital is divided into two wards, Hope and Love. So, we took our time in each ward going from room-to-room most having two patients to a room, where we could minister to the patients, but remembering the strict rules to be careful not to proselyte. The smell of the place was almost overwhelming. It was clean not a lot of filth, but well . . . you know what I mean. Each patient had a bed, linen, maybe a pillow. Some had a table, most had a table on wheels that can be used for feeding, medicine, bathing, and the like. At first to be honest being an old Corpsman my heart went out them, but the longer we stayed and talked the more anxious I became and the more I just wanted to do a drive by smile and tell them Jesus loves them. How easy that is to do these days, not much communion especially with the dying, after all I probably will never see them again on earth. Right? No, wrong! But not so with Karen. I do not think anyone knew my feelings, well maybe the LORD. To be honest I was surprised about my feelings and at how Karen just jumped in and hugged the ladies and smiled like a ray of sunshine. You should have seen the faces of some folks light up. No words needed to be spoken, the hugs and smiles from Karen was enough to tell them she cared and for a brief time their burdens and pains were lifted. Now do not get me wrong here I was not repulsed by the folks or wanted to run out of the rooms yelling and screaming, but I was just uncomfortable and when I saw Karen cuddle the ladies and smile the more uncomfortable I got. We moved from room to room, me with my plastic smile and Karen filled with a heart of joy. You know God is always good at making us suffer awhile with ourself. So, in one of the last room rooms we went into, I think on the Love ward, stayed a young lady maybe in her late 30s early 40s who kidneys had shut down and was all swollen and could not move her body at all. The only thing she could move was her head. She laid flat on her back growing skin break down and bed sores by the day. No TV, no entertainment, only staff and a window where she can watch the sunrise and sunset to mark the days. Her family has left her to die. The rest of her time all she could do is look up at the ceiling. Can you image that? Well, God finally got me. My heart really went out to her. I just wanted to help her, hold her, do something that would make her life just a little bit better, but all I could do is smile at her and she smiled back, wow did that smile hurt. I knew not her language and I had to be careful what I said, so all I could do was stand there and pray for her quietly under my breath. I reached out and took her hand and smiled at her, I think she kind of knew something was going on, but was not sure. We left, but the image of that lady laying there in bed really vexed my spirit or I should say maybe it was my lack of feelings for the rest of the folks that vexed my spirit. The LORD brought my most favorite verse in the Bible to my mind “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24) Did you get that, “but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” My friend we are that “corn of wheat” and if we can fall into the ground God will see to it that fruit will come forth in our lives for His glory. But the question is not about God’s power, intention, or authority, but can we die? Do we want to die to our self, our desires, our plans, our dreams, our self-life? As we were leaving the hospital later, we ate supper with the Director Sunil and his wonderful family, God spoke to me and asked, “But did you die?” To me honest I was hurt God would ask me such a question. After all, we spend thousands of dollars on plane tickets, just spent 20+ hours getting to Nepal, our lives have been turned upside down, we are a little sick, miss our kids and friends, and God asks, “But did you die?” Well, God knew the truth. This is why he asked me the question. He knew I had not died to myself enough to be able to cuddle the ladies, to smile at them with feeling like Karen. So, God promptly and happily killed me in myself the more with the lady laying on the bed. Oh, blessed death, strange to find spiritual death to myself in a hospital where death nips at the heels of each patient. I realized then I too was a patient, oh not dying of cancer, but God has brought me to this hospital for treatment to take care of a far worse cancer, my self-life. Now God has done this before many times and I thank God for this most blessed death in me. Like Paul, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18) I think God has to keep teaching us this lesson or we will totally get off track and spin out of God’s control. Coming to know, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) is a wonderful and safe place in God. Now, God can trust me to teach and preach His word to the Nepalese people on this trip. I have been reduced in myself, emptied now God can fill me with more of Himself and His word. This is the condition to be able to minister the life of God, to be reduced and humbled by God so that we can be filled the more with Him. You know we can travel the world preach and teach to millions and do all of this in our self. Most of the nominal church and denominations fits this description. But, if we can have enough of God in us so that He can kill us, so too we can fall into the ground and die then we will be able to experience the resurrection life that is found only in Christ Jesus. And you my friend? But did you die? Written by David Stahl