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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Faithful to the End

“You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live and we are not given a minute longer.” (Job 14:5)


Many of you have asked me about the Stams’ illustration that I used yesterday at the South Campus. Here is a brief summary as is recorded in Christian History, p. 682-683:


John and Betty Stam met at Moody Bible Institute while both were studying to become missionaries to China. After going there separately under the China Inland Mission (CIM), they were unexpectedly reunited and a year later were married. On Sept. 11, 1934, their daughter Helen was born, and by the end of November the Stams were installed in their new post in Tsingteh. Only 27 and 28 years old, with a newborn baby, they seemed at the beginning of their ministry, but on Dec. 6, 1934, communist soldiers swept into Tsingteh and arrested the Stams.


John wrote to the CIM: “My wife, baby, and myself are today in the hands of the Communists, in the city of Tsingteh. Their demand is $20,000 for our release. God grant you wisdom in what you do, and us fortitude, courage and peace of heart. The Lord bless and guide you, and as for us, may God be glorified whether by life or by death.”


The Stams were forced to make a difficult march to the town of Miao-shou. Physically exhausted, they were horrified to hear the soldiers discuss plans to murder their baby to make the trip easier. Witnesses said that an old farmer stepped forward to object. When challenged by the soldiers to take Helen’s place, the man agreed and was shot on the spot. Little Helen’s life was miraculously spared.


Arriving in Miao-shou, the Stams were imprisoned until morning. Then soldiers bound them both and forced them to leave their baby behind. As they were marching through the streets, the soldiers called people to witness their execution. On a hill outside the village a local Christian doctor stepped forward to beg for their lives. The soldiers condemned him to die as well, and when John asked for mercy for the doctor, he was immediately beheaded. Betty fell on her knees beside John and was beheaded as well.


A Chinese evangelist named Lo was hiding with his family outside the village. Hearing of the executions, he came secretly into town where villagers pointed toward a silent house. Entering it, Lo found baby Helen, not yet 3 months old, miraculously safe after 30 hours alone.


Taking her with him, he went to the hill and found her parents’ bodies. Hastily organizing his friends’ burial, he spoke to the people who had gathered: “You have seen these wounded bodies, and you pity our friends for their suffering and death. But you should know they are children of God. Their spirits are unharmed and are at the moment in the presence of their Heavenly Father. They came here not for themselves, but for you, to tell you about the great love of God, that you might believe in the Lord Jesus and be eternally saved. You have heard their message. Remember, it is true. Their death proves it so. Do not forget what they told you – repent, and believe the Gospel.”


The Lo family managed to escape with baby Helen and made the 100 mile journey to safety. The news of the “Miracle Baby” and her parents’ martyrdom spread around the world. In response, many hundreds pledged their lives to missionary service and the CIM. A missionary in China wrote Betty’s parents: “A life which had the longest span of years might not have been able to do one-hundredth of the work for Christ which they have done in a day.”


John and Betty Stams remind us that our lives, indeed our time on this earth is in God’s hands. He has numbered our days. Since we are not sovereign, and cannot see past the end of our nose, we must commit every breath to serving our King, who alone holds the keys to eternal life. This is especially relevant now as we are in a season of fulfilling our earthly wants. Let’s keep these things in perspective and truly worship our King, firmly “taking hold of that which is life indeed.”


Until Next Week,


Dr. Derek

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