As we reach our halfway point (7 weeks done, 7 more to go...) I would like to share with you about one of our students - Elias (or Elijah in English). Coming from a background of drug addiction, Elias came to know the Lord 4 years ago through a drug rehab center. He came to CEC with the desire to learn more of the Bible for the purpose of sharing with others, through teaching and preaching, the Word of God.
Having gotten to know Elias over these past weeks, I have rarely met someone who is so genuine and sincere in his love for God and his desire to serve Him in everything. A week ago as we were celebrating communion together, he shared in reflection about how for the past number of years he lived with the fear of condemnation as a Christian. Much of what he had heard about the Christian life was based on following rules - you must do this - you must not do that, or else...and the stakes were apparently very high. He shared during communion about this weight that he had carried for a long time, always worried about committing mistakes and losing his way. However, with a huge smile coming from a heart evidently full of joy, he shared how now he understood more fully the incredible Gospel message of Christ's completed work on the cross, and that nothing, in fact, can even be added to it. He shared how this incredibly heavy weight that he had been carrying has been lifted off of his back. He understands it not as a freedom not to do whatever he wants, but to serve God now in joy and gratitude, not in fear. He is not the only one who has been impacted profoundly by the study of the Bible - each one could tell of their own Aha! moments as God continues to reveal Himself to each one of the students being in the Bible day in and day out.
Speaking of serving Him, the other night it was Elias' turn to lead a study in our weekly Men's Night. For him this was a big deal - though his desire is to share with others the truths of the Bible, he has expressed on many occasions his fear of doing so and his limited understanding of the Bible itself. Having dropped out of school at a very early age, reading was difficult and he has expressed frustration at various times in not understanding many things in the Bible. As the weeks have progressed, however, being immersed in it in and out of class, his mind has been absorbing its truths (even if slowly), and they have simultaneously been sinking into his heart. It was evident as he shared the other day on the top of betrayal, looking at Judas' example of betraying Jesus. In "fear and trembling" he lead us both from his own life and in reflection on the story of Judas and Jesus - it was a joy to see him rise to the occasion, and, in his own words, depend on God to work through him.
What has been exciting as well, is how God is working in his life to bring his family back together. For the years of drug abuse and neglect, he had virtually lost all relationship with his wife and two kids. The Lord had put it on his heart to seek reconciliation with them and he has been praying to that end. During the weekends when he is able to talk to them, he has seen more and more of an openness on his wife's part to see reconciliation, with hopes that this will become a reality. It is exciting to see how fully and completely God can transform, slowly and surely, the life of someone who had literally lost everything.
He is just one example of the transformative work that we are seeing God do in each one of the students. It definitely doesn't come without challenges, but with each challenge we have seen the students respond to God's work in their lives. This doesn't even mention the work that God continues to do in our own lives as well! I have finished my first section of teaching on Spiritual Disciplines - in a couple of weeks I'll begin a course on the topic of Grace and how to live in environments of grace where others can grow in maturity. Meanwhile we continue to see God's patient work in each one's lives. Sometimes I want to see things change faster, but then I just need to take a look in the mirror and see how slowly (but surely) God's work has been in my own life - and continues to be! One of the first verses we look at in Spiritual Disciplines is Psalm 1:2-3, where growth, anchored in faithful meditation on God's law, is like a tree - slow, even excruciatingly slow growth! But a tree is not easily uprooted. Thank God for His patient but sure work in each one of us! ¡Dios les bendiga!
