The Element of Surprise (Shocking?)

About a month ago, one of our scholars (a very good friend of mine), an expert in 'the Trinity debate and the Holy Spirit' shared about his mother who decided to trust her life in Jesus. This scholar could not believe with her mother's sudden and immediate decision. At first, he felt that her mother was not serious with her decision. The fact that he has been praying for years for her mother to repent does not remove the element of surprise (or 'shocking' to speak).

This woman is 74 years old now and have been going through two cancer operations and some treatments. She had been opposing Christianity in her entire life up to her repentance. She disagreed with her son's decision to serve as a pastor and a theology lecturer. This fellow scholar (note that he holds two PhDs!) compared her mother's repentant with 'sending mountain into the sea' - something possible only through the intervention of God.

This morning this fellow scholar shared again about her mother. She was baptized two weeks ago. In her personal testimony after the baptism, she shared about the tragedy of loosing her biological father during the second World War - but now she is so thankful to God for adopting her as his daughter. The once fatherless woman now has eternal, saving and loving Father. What a great speech from an old woman who is starting a new life! God restores the deepest need of her; God heals her wound exactly on its deepest spot. Her genuine testimony has deeply touched my heart.

Upon hearing this testimony, I was reminded that God's miracles are available to all kinds of people: men and women, young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, married and single. The Holy Spirit is still at work. The Spirit spoke to this old lady, and immediately (and surprisingly) she decided to trust her life in Christ.

Are we ready for the element(s) of shocking in our life in Christ? For those who are in Christ and fully dependent on his grace, surprises and miracles are not far and impossible. God listens to our prayers attentively. The time will come when we will personally experience God's greatness in our lives. We are limited, but our heavenly Father is unlimited.