After one of the mornings of teaching this week, one of the men stood and recounted an old legend. “There once was a man from another island who came and lived near here. He was very smart and knew all the languages. He knew the trade language of Papua New Guinea, he knew the language of his own tribe, he knew the language of the tribe next to us, he knew the Patpatar language, and he even knew American. One day someone asked him, if he knew all the languages of the world and all the sounds there were. The legendary man responded, ‘I know everything except the letter O.'”
I was left bewildered at the story this man had shared with the captive audience, but then he began to explain. “Are we like that man, have we learned many things but missed the key? Have we learned how to act good with all our works? Have we learned how to do the right things for the spirits? Have we learned how to go to church and follow those rules? Have we learned all that and missed the most important thing there is to know? Have we missed the letter O?” With that he sat down.
As we have been teaching through the Bible, the people have seen that, one by one, the things they have been depending on for the afterlife and for ‘getting to God’ are not enough. This last week as Tammy and Lori reenacted the Pharisee and the sinner praying to God, many of the Patpatar realized that they were like that Pharisee depending on their own good to be accepted by God. They are realizing that they are missing the answer. There is a big hole in their lives. There is a big O.
Only two more weeks until the answer is presented. Only two more weeks until they hear that the Messiah they are learning about has paid the full price of their sins on the cross. The teaching of Christ has been pulling away the crutches they have been leaning on, now they are looking for answers. Many are looking for the big O to be filled. Pray for the Patpatar in these last two weeks of critical teaching. Pray for our team and our health as we work hard to finish well.
Coming this week:
* The seven “I AM’s of Jesus” – He is the Way the truth and the life. * The rich young ruler – even the best have not kept all the laws of God. * The raising of Lazarus – Jesus has power over death. * Hell – Jesus warned people of the place of punishment if they did not believe on Him. * Jesus as King – His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
All for Him,
Aaron