Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Monday 12th September 2020
Most of the day was spend travelling from Poznan to Poland’s capital Warsaw, (Warszawa). After another 310 kilometres we arrived at our base, Warsaw’s Theological Academy. Once unpacked we were met by Mrs Barbara Narzynska, the General Secretary of the British and Foriegn Bible Society in Poland. In acknowledgement of our visit and the work undertaken by her colleague Brian Hart we were taken to a local restaurant for an evening meal.
During the evening, Barbara described the society’s work which had continued despite the difficulties of the war and post war Stalin eras. She shared that her father always had a dream of the ‘Army’ coming to Poland. Although the meal started at 6.30 we didn’t leave until after 10:00.
I want to jump forward for a moment to the next day to share another link with Barbara and the Bible Society. Towards the end of the next morning we traveled to Bible Society Shop and Office and heard the almost improbable story.
At the beginning of World War II, aerial bombings flattened much of Warsaw. Cement blocks, ruptured plumbing, and shards of glass lay strewn across the great city. In the downtown area, however, most of one damaged building still stubbornly stood. It was the Polish headquarters for the British and Foreign Bible Society in Jerusalem Street, one of the main streets of Old Warsaw in World War II. When the Germans began bombing the city, the wife of the director went to the storeroom and carried some 2,000 Bibles down to the basement. She was trapped by the bombing and later captured by the Germans and put in a prison camp. She managed to escape, and after the war was over was able to get to those 2,000 Bibles and distribute them to the people in need. Warsaw was flattened but on Jerusalem Street one wall of the old British and Foreign Bible Society remained standing. On it were these words, painted in large letters: "HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY, BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY."
On our visit to the rebuilt office we were able to see the etched glass above the book cases a permanent reminder of that miracle.
This story brings into sharp focus that the life of a follower of Jesus can call for extraordinary action and devotion from ordinary mortals, who through the promised comfort of the Spirit c an face fo great difficulties in extraordinary ways. This is often at great personal cost and tests the thesis that God’s Grace is all sufficient.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book, The Cost of Discipleship writes.
“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a we must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a a disciple’s life, and it is grace because it gives the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”
Dear Lord, Give me courage I pray, to open my mouth and speak the truth to whomsoever I may come into contact. Release my tongue and allow me to speak forth what is in my heart, to your praise and glory. Lord, I know that without You I can do nothing, but I also believe that I can do all things through Christ Who gives me the strength and courage.
So use my life I pray, and give me the courage to be a good and faithful witness to Jesus, in word and in deed, to His praise and glory. In Jesus' name.
Amen
Tomorrow a Surprise for a Cardinal!
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