Malachi 3:17 "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels..."
During the past four years, Kent has endeavored to build a bridge of friendship with Rajan (RAH 'John), an Indian young man, who works at a nearby supermarket. Rajan recently started wearing a necklace with a cross on it. Noticing the cross pendant, Kent asked Rajan if he knew the story about the Cross. He didn't. So, Rajan was invited to come to the CEF office to hear the story. One Friday night, Kent and Rajan sat in the reception area so Kent could explain the Gospel via the salvation truths which are beautifully carved in the "CEF" letters which hang on the wall in the reception area.
Rajan enjoyed listening to the Good News that the Heavenly Father loves him. But he was extremely resistant to the news that he was a sinner as this concept of personal sin is not part of Hinduism. Kent finished explaining the Gospel story, but then asked Rajan to think about the truths he had learned.
The next evening, we were relaxing and enjoying a family night. We were surprised when Rajan showed up around 8:15 PM. We fed him dinner and Rajan expressed interest in receiving that "free gift" (of salvation). Meanwhile, he asked if he could listen to an old iPod that he had found in the dorm room. There was no connection cord.
Kent turned his back for a few minutes to ask Jeremy to check the iPod. It was "dead." Rajan put down the "dead" iPod and went downstairs to the dorms.
Jeremy suddenly remembered his new iPod Touch and went to pick it up from the living room. It was GONE!
SICK at heart, we searched the apartment. Kent and Jeremy went downstairs TWICE to ask Rajan about the iPod Touch. Rajan denied having any knowledge of its whereabouts.
Kent searched Rajan's backpack TWICE before finally telling Rajan that he was no longer allowed to be on the CEF property until we located the iPodTouch. All weekend, our family grieved over this betrayal of trust as we searched for the missing iPod. In particular, we, as parents, grieved that OUR SON was having to pay the price of our obedience to the Lord in sharing the Gospel as a missionary family.
Kent also grieved the broken relationship with Rajan.
Several days later, a volunteer came running upstairs holding the missing iPod Touch which had been hidden behind a mirror down in the dorm. Jeremy was ecstatic to have it back!
Three weeks went by. Rajan came by twice to offer Indian sweets to Kent. Each time, Kent graciously thanked Rajan, assured him of his love, accepted Rajan's love gifts, but stuck to his word about not allowing Rajan into the building.
FINALLY, Rajan arranged to talk to Kent on Monday, March 12. In that meeting, Kent asked Rajan about the whereabouts of the iPod Touch, not yet revealing that it had been found. Kent wanted Rajan to have enough time to admit his sin, asking Rajan to simply say 5 words, "Yes sir, I did it."
As Rajan hesitated to speak, Kent explained that, although he still loved him, their friendship was broken. As there was no one else on the property that evening, we KNEW Rajan had to have taken the i-Pod Touch. Kent needed to have Rajan ADMIT to what he had done. Rajan finally said "Sir, I did it." At that point, Kent stood up and hugged Rajan saying, "I love you for telling the truth."
As Kent talked about their broken friendship that needed to be repaired through admitting the wrong and asking forgiveness, he told Rajan that his friendship with God was also broken. With that explanation, spiritual understanding finally dawned! Rajan admitted that he had sinned, his friendship with God was broken, and he needed a Saviour. Rajan was born again! Kent gave him a Bible and a correspondence Bible lesson for follow-up.
The next day, Rajan showed up during his lunch break with his completed Bible lesson. He had studied for TWO hours the night before and read the first pages of his Bible. He was so excited to have Kent write 100% on his lesson. Every day the first week he returned on his lunch hour to get his new lesson. It brings us great JOY to see his hunger for spiritual truths!
What a story of a Great God who has GREAT mercy and goes to GREAT lengths to have the lost sinner understand the GREATEST story ever told so that there would be another Precious Jewel in God's forever family!
P.S. Rajan came this weekend, broken-hearted that his store manager had told him that he could not continue to be friends with the "gora" (white man) who was a customer at their store! This seems ludicrous and Rajan continues to visit us regularly.
Pray for Rajan and his spiritual growth in the Lord.
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