God’s Free Grace Glorified (6)

The recently passed days showed a rapid decline in Mina’s condition.

It is now the third of February. Rev. Middel stands sorrowfully at the sickbed of his daughter. He cannot help his daughter, but he can pray for her. If Mina has to die, it will be very difficult for him, but then—if only she may be eternally happy.

The poor father goes to his study and there brings his needs before the Lord. He begs that the soul of his child may be saved. He wrestles and continues in prayer. Then it is almost as if he hears an audible voice, and there come with power in his soul the words of Nahum the prophet, “Affliction shall not rise up a second time.”

Oh, the great wonder of God’s mercy. The Lord showed His servant that although the affliction of his child was very grievous, it would not come over her a second time. Upon her death, she would be delivered from her afflictions. She would then be with God in glory eternally.

Suddenly the minister’s thoughts went back twenty-six years to the “Oosterkerk” in Amsterdam. It was a service where Rev. Van Maanen preached about the marriage of Amram and Jochabed, the parents of Moses. Out of that marriage, three children would be born to serve the Lord, namely, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. In this way the Lord still fulfills His counsel, when He unites God-fearing people in marriage in an exceptional manner.

At that time, Rev. Middel was able to believe that this is what happened in his own marriage. He had been closely bound to his future wife by means of correspondence but without ever having met her. They had never yet spoken to each other. Powerfully, he was given to believe that also out of their marriage three children would be born who would serve the Lord. What unspeakable joy that had been for him then, but He was only able to enjoy the expectation of the promised fulfillment for a short time. Later that promise was hidden for him, and he thought very little about it. Now his thoughts were again fixed on this promise. It was as if the Lord asked him, “Have you forgotten what I promised you during that church service and later in your home?” Then the Lord showed him how He had converted his young son John at a very early age and had taken him up in glory at five years old. Now He would also bring his daughter there where all tears will be wiped away; also he thought of his oldest son who was a minister in God’s Church.

“I am the God of Bethel.” That is what the Lord now spoke in his soul. He was placed back in time and was able to see who the Lord had been for Him. Rev. Middel could not find the words to praise the Lord in a right manner. His soul sank away in deep humility and childlike love for the grace and faithfulness of the Lord. He glorified God’s wisdom and wondered at the great love which had been shown unto him.

On the night of February 3, the young girl lay deathly sick because of fever, coughing, and diarrhea. When the morning came, there seemed to be some improvement. Her father asked her how it was with her spiritually. Then she answered, “Father, what is the spiritual meaning of the words of Psalm 48, ‘Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King’?” She was not satisfied with the literal translation of the text; she wanted to know the deeper meaning.

Then her father began to explain, saying, “It was a beautiful sight in Israel when they celebrated her feasts, when thousands of people entered and left the temple on the north side of the temple. In holy zeal and full of joy, they praised and glorified the Lord, but how will it be when a multitude will stand before God’s throne with holy zeal? What a glorious vision that shall be! Then the multitude who have been redeemed shall glorify the Lord in a most perfect manner.”

“Oh, Father,” the young girl called out, “how great, how great.”

She was so affected that she could say no more. Her bodily weakness would not allow it. She closed her eyes, and a happy smile covered her face.

A little later she again opened her eyes and saw her father who was still standing at her bedside.

“My dear child,” he said, “if the Lord now saves your soul and brings you into His glory, what great glory you will see. Then all will be fulfilled.”

“That is true, Father; I do not have that faith yet, but when death draws nigh, He will send complete deliverance. Do you remember, Father, one time you preached in Terneuzen that we must serve the Lord with an undivided heart?”

The minister nodded and said, “Tell me about it.”

“You asked if we were willing to serve Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King. If so, we must break the covenant with Satan and sin, for Christ must possess our entire heart. Then I invoked the omniscience of the Lord; God knew of my desire to serve Him completely and to live for Him with my whole heart, but I could not rise above sin. I had great difficulty to not burst out loudly crying while I was in church.”

She waited a few moments, for she was so tired, but her eyes were glistening. A little later she continued, “As a closing psalm, we sang Psalter 420 verse 5, and when the lines ‘He hears the needy when they cry, He saves their souls when death draws nigh,’ were sung, the Lord in a powerful way made me believe that He would do this for me. He promised that He would save my soul and that as death drew near, He would grant complete deliverance.”

(To be continued)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen