I’ve been dying to have the time to share this book with you. It is truly the most wonderful and awful book I think I’ve ever read. My friend, Heidi, shared it with me, and God has used it to strengthen my faith, prayer life, and resolve to stand, bow, and serve no matter what. The book? It’s not new. In fact, it was published 10 years ago. It’s called The Heavenly Man, and it’s the story of a Chinese
Christian named Brother Yun.
As much as I’ve been wanting to tell you about it, I just don’t have the words to do it justice. This is a portion of what’s written on the back cover:
An inspirational and heroic story of a radical Christian in the house churches of China. This book is like reading a modern-day version of the Book of Acts. Prepare to be deeply encouraged as well as rudely awakened. An absolute must for the sleeping churches of the West.
The Heavenly Man is the intensely dramatic story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village in Henan Province and used him mightily to preach the gospel despite horrific opposition… Brother Yun is one of China’s house church leaders, a man who despite his relative youth has suffered prolonged torture and imprisonment for his faith… This astonishing book will form a watershed in your spiritual life…
It is a profound challenge to each of us to take up the cross and follow Jesus…
I couldn’t agree more. Especially since the two words God gave me for this year were Awake and Arise, it seems as if God is placing in front of me some tools to help me do just that. I live a comfortable life today… most everyone who will read this post does. But the Word of God doesn’t guarantee comfort. In fact, it often tells us of the suffering that will come to God’s people. Though the suffering won’t last forever, and God is the Victor, suffering will come. It has come to many of our brothers and sisters already.
When I consider the state of this nation, I can no longer assume that we (as American believers in Christ) will always exist here in comfort. It may be time for all of us to “Awake and Arise”. 1 Peter 4:12-16 tells us:
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” NLT
Brother Yun’s testimony is a beautiful~horrible picture of someone who, despite the torture, loss, and pain, considered his suffering an honor in Christ. He has experienced God doing miracle after miracle to sustain him and the house-body of Christ in China. He is just one of many believers around the world who are currently standing firm amidst the difficulties, boldly and bravely spreading the Good News of Salvation, knowing that their real home is not this world – it is in Heaven. We could learn much from their examples.
Thank you, Heidi, for this book. My friends, if you want to read this wonderful and terrible book, you can find it at the link below. May we all be ready to give glory to God if we are deemed worthy to suffer for His name.
PS: I was not paid to endorse or recommend this book. I just couldn’t help passing it along. However, if you purchase it from Amazon through the link above, I do receive a tiny percentage of the profits. Just wanted to be upfront about that. I’ve never done this before… trying something new… 😉