From Spiritually Numb to Alive in Christ
by Peter Meyer - I love to travel, and as a contractor I was always on the go around the countryside. I have worked and holidayed in seven African countries and explored about 75% of South Africa. I noticed many beautiful churches scattered around all these countries. As a lukewarm Christian I had a bias towards churches, but I also noticed other places of worship, like the Zionest Church who would meet in the open veld (grassland) and under trees along riverbanks.
Two months after recommitting my life to Jesus Christ, in the middle of an Alpha course, I embarked on my first overseas holiday with my beautiful wife. Destination Thailand! Having watched the movie, “The Bridge Over the River Kwai”, that was the one place I had to visit. I paid my respect to those who lost their lives and suffered under the hands of their oppressors during the railway and bridge construction.
Our next stop was Hell-Fire Pass. It’s on the same train line on the border of Burma and Thailand. I had to abruptly stop listening to the audio of a survivor, who had laboured to construct the Burma-Thailand Railway, as it was absolutely shocking to hear how they were treated during the war. Hence the name Hell-Fire Pass as POWs and civilian forced labourers thought they were experiencing hell! My spirit was stirred with compassion and sorrow.
The Thai-people are so friendly and welcoming to tourists. I enjoyed their hospitality. I marvelled at the detail on the golden temple and other temples but one stood out, a 45-metre tall buddha being built on Phuket Island at the top of a hill, where it could be seen from everywhere we went. As tourists we went for a closer look, where we found Monks asking for a donation towards the marble cladding, they were installing. My spirit questioned, “why can’t this concrete god clad itself? Because it is man-made….”
As a young believer in Jesus, I was still on “milk”. (1 Corinthians 3:2 says, “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.”) I sensed the spiritual shift in me, but I was in spiritual infancy, having a revelation of idolatry! I was not comfortable entering into the temples, so I did not. It was the Holy Spirit already at work in me.
That was 14 years ago. As I have studied the Bible over time, I have come to realise the meaning of Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.”
My old need to frequent bars and live a secular life had been removed from me, not in my strength but in Christ’s. We read in Colossians 1:27, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
All glory to God for leading me into repentance, laying His Word on my heart. I’m a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Know that if a situation doesn’t feel right, do something about it, because it’s probably the Holy Spirit prompting and guiding you.
Blessings
Peter Meyer
Peter Meyer serves on the Promise Keepers NZ Board.