THE MOST PRECIOUS LEGACY

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

MOTHER’S DAY 2007

Someone who truly believes what God has revealed about Himself and His creation in the Bible should never be surprised whenever terrible violence suddenly erupts someplace in our world. Feelings of shock, anger, horror, outrage, grief, and a myriad of other adjectives perhaps, but never one of surprise to someone well versed in the Scriptures.

Although an evil act such as 911 may have astonished everyone except the perpetrators; a Bible believer should never be surprised that such an event occurred because that person knows we live in a sin saturated world. However, anyone who is somewhat knowledgeable about the history of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinian’s, and even if he or she considers the Bible just an ordinary book; that person would not be surprised by 911 or by the suicide bombings in Israel either.

The monstrous atrocities committed by Jewish Zionist forces against millions of non-Jews living peacefully in Palestine in 1948 and since has generated intense hatred for Israel and its supporters by some of their Palestinian victims who were unwilling to restrain or get rid of their unquestionably justifiable anger. Instead these people did exactly the opposite of what God has commanded all human beings not to do. They returned evil for evil.

Ephesians 4:26 (AMP) ²⁶ When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.

Colossians 3:8 (AMP) ⁸ But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!

As difficult as keeping these commands may seem to be, many of the Palestinian victims were able to handle their anger the way God wants all of us to. For instance, years later a man named Elias recalling that wide-awake nightmare that started when he was an eight year old boy shared his memories in a book he wrote: “Night after night I would lean my head against mother, fingering the fish and doves on her necklace, and hear father pray: “Forgive them, O God. Heal their pain. Remove their bitterness. Let us show them Your peace.”[i]

“Forgive them, O God.” Do these words sound familiar? They ought to. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles records the account of the murder of a young follower of Jesus named Stephen.

Acts 7:54 (AMP) ⁵⁴ Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews] were cut to the heart and infuriated, and they ground their teeth against [Stephen]. And then just before he died we read:

Acts 7:60 (ESV) ⁶⁰ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

We know the One Stephen and Elias father were emulating, don’t we? As He was hanging in agony on His cross taking on the just punishment for the sins of His people, we read:

Luke 23:34 (ESV) ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Elsewhere Elias wrote about the time when all the men and older boys in his village were forced to endure a torturous interrogation while standing outside their homes in the scorching sun. “We could see father at the far side of the lot. Sweat dripped from his chin. His eyes were shut and occasionally his lips would move. I knew he was praying for the soldiers. And suddenly, as the afternoon sun waned, it was over. The commanding officer barked abruptly: “Go back to your homes. But don’t try to escape.”

“Father nearly collapsed inside our door. He and my brothers rested in the quiet coolness of the house while Mother and Wardi rushed to bring them water and a little food. As the darkness settled over us, no one dared to light fires or to cook a meal. The solders remained in Gish, gathering around their trucks or patrolling the streets. We waited in a misery of silence, hoping they would leave.”

“Father seemed to have some inner warning of what would happen next. He drew next to each of us in turn, with a gentle touch and an inscrutable look. I suspected that he was praying for us one by one. His eyes looked weary, and yet some reservoir of calm lay behind them. When he smiled at me and touched my shoulder I could almost believe that the solders would leave soon and let us live in peace.”

“And suddenly there was noise and bustling in the dark streets. I shuddered to the sounds of loud, angry voices, gun-butts thudding at doors and the growl of truck motors starting. The loudspeaker was glaring again. ‘Come out of your houses. We want all men to come out and give themselves up. You are leaving here at once.’” “Mother seized Father’s arm, sheer anguish carving her gentle face. Michael, what are they doing? Where—?” “Katoub,” he stopped her, drawing her close. God is watching us. You have to be strong—-“he paused, his voice dropping, “for the little ones.”

For a moment they held each other as the terrible blaring continued. The wailing outside cinched the knot in my stomach. Tears streamed down Wardi’s face. Then Father turned to my brothers and said quietly, “We’ll go now.”

“Mother trailed after them, kissing Rudah, Chacour and Musah, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. I stood frozen beside her on the doorstep, Atallah and Wardi peering mutely over my shoulder. In the glare of headlights and flares, we stared into the darkness and chaos. Soldiers were hurrying the men and older boys at gun point onto the open backed trucks. More guards stood at the tailgates barking orders. In the doorways, women stood weeping, their babies and smaller children wailing loudly in their arms. Father and my brothers had already been jammed into one of the trucks with several dozen other men, and we could no longer see them.”

“As the last tailgate slammed shut, the loudspeaker called out to the women. “We are taking your terrorists away. This is what happens to all terrorists. You will not see them again.” And then the trucks were rolling, rumbling away into the night. In the blackness, women flooded the streets, sinking to their knees and weeping, calling the names of their husbands and sons. In those, the darkest hours of her life, Mother would turn again and again to her only source of strength and inner peace. She stroked my hair, and continued softly praying.”[ii]

That eight year old boy and his brothers and sisters had been blessed by God with godly Christ-like parents. Of course they weren’t perfect. They still sinned. However, from what I just read about the way each of them responded to their torment, it’s obvious God was using those truly evil things He allowed them to be  subjected to and was working each them out in such a way so as to keep His promise.

Romans 8:28-29 (AMP) ²⁸ We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

Some might wonder how it was possible for Elias’ parents to pray and ask God to forgive those Jewish solders who tormented them greatly just as the unbelievers in our country marveled at how the Amish people forgave the murderer of those school children last year. We might also ask how is it possible not to become an emotional basket case in the midst of sweating out if a loved one will recover from a tragic accident or some other frightening possibility.

Whenever we human beings are faced with troubling possibilities or eventualities, we have the God given freedom to choose whether or not we will respond the way He wants us to. And each of us is responsible for the choices we make and each of us will experience the consequence whether it’s good or bad.

No one has ever put a gun to our head and threatened to shoot us unless we attempt to drown our sorrow in booze or drugs, have they? Who has ever forced us to harbor bitterness, resentment and hatred in our hearts? When was the last time any of us were forced to do what Jesus said is to kill someone in our heart?

What powerful uncontrollable force has ever penetrated our mind so as to compel us not to trust God in all circumstances and instead worry ourselves sick? Finally, what kind of a witness are we to those non-Christians God has caused to cross paths with us, folks He wants us to share the incredible reality of the power of the indwelling Spirit of God living within each of His people, and how much we resemble His Son in kindness, gentleness, humility, patience; folks who are slow to get angry and quick to forgive?

That little barrel-chested boy remembered his father praying: “Forgive them, O God. Heal their pain. Remove their bitterness. Let us show them Your peace.” But how was that possible under such horrendous circumstances? How could anyone utter such a prayer and really mean it? The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit living inside Elias’ mom and dad would have jogged their memory about something Jesus once said.

Matthew 5:43-45 (AMP) ⁴³ You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; ⁴⁴ But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].

Obviously the things I am speaking about you and I doing are a whole lot easier said than done, aren’t they? I’ll be the first to admit that it’s impossible, unless we do something which will unleash the spiritual power which will energize us. Paul and the others certainly did. Look at how it played out in their lives.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (AMP) ⁴ But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities, ⁵ In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; ⁶ By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;

⁷ By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; ⁸ Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest. ⁹ [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed; ¹⁰ As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 7:4 (AMP) ⁴ I have great boldness and free and fearless confidence and cheerful courage toward you; my pride in you is great. I am filled [brimful] with the comfort [of it]; with all our tribulation and in spite of it, [I am filled with comfort] I am overflowing with joy.

Acts 16 gives us an account of how some men responded when, by the power of God, Paul freed their girl slave from an evil spirit. Acts 16:19-25 (AMP) ¹⁹ But when her owners discovered that their hope of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the forum (marketplace), [where trials are held]. ²⁰ And when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion. ²¹ They encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe!

²² The crowd [also] joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. ²⁴ He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,

This is hardly the behavior of men who are sick to their stomachs worrying about what may happen to them next. Kind of seems like these guys were energized, doesn’t it? But where did they get it from? What did they have to do in order to unleash such incredible power? Better yet, what must you and I do to acquire it? Before I answer, let me ask you this question; do you really want it? Are you certain? It’s obvious you will change big time. You will become more and more Christ like. In fact you will be gradually transformed into becoming a kind, gentle, merciful, humble, patient person who is slow to get angry and quick to forgive,

Can you honestly say that is the kind of man or woman or boy or girl you sincerely want to become? Are you absolutely certain, even though often the very means the Lord uses to bring about that transformation within us, is by allowing you and me to experience real difficult circumstances which each of us would give anything not to have to endure?

Furthermore, don’t think you will be turned into a wimp. No one could ever accuse Jesus of being a cream puff, could they? Being human like you and me He was also concerned about the shear evil He knew He was going to suffer on Calvary, but He didn’t throw a fit of rage or allow Himself to sink into a depression by worrying about them, did He? Could anyone ever say He immobilized Himself in the present by worrying about what the future had in store for Him? Of course not, and neither will you or I if we will avail ourselves of the energizing power He wants us to take and use for His glory.

It’s found in the Bible and although it’s free it will take some of our time to extract. That means we will have to modify our often self imposed hectic life style and make God our number one priority.  We will have to deliberately slow ourselves down and make the time to study God’s revelation of Himself to us. As I said earlier, Elias and his brothers and sisters had been blessed by the Lord with godly Christ-like parents, each of whom I might add, truly knew God.

Then what do we have to do? We must strive to get to really know God. I don’t mean that we must know that He exists. All human beings are aware of that fact (Romans 1). We must know God personally, so much so that we will fall in love with Him and will want to please Him in everything we allow ourselves to think about and in every word that we speak, and the manner in which we act in the midst of those often troubling circumstances He has planned for us to experience.

Inspired by godly Christ-like parents, and energized by bringing to remembrance his knowledge of God, and by struggling to maintain what no doubt must often have been a minute by minute trust in the One He loved, Elias was able to rise above his divinely ordained circumstances and accomplish some of the good works God had ordained for him to do.

“Since 1983 the Prophet Elias High School in Ibillin, where [Father Elias] Chacour still resides, has grown from eighty to nearly fifteen hundred students. At that time he had already founded kindergartens, elementary schools, community centers and libraries in Palestinian villages throughout the Galilee. But those efforts were just the beginning.”

“In 1995 Chacour opened the Mar Elias Technological College, receiving accreditation from the Israeli Minister of Education. Next came a College of Religious Pluralism. In 1997 he opened a Regional Resource Center for the continuing education of Arab teachers in the Galilee, which has a current enrollment of eleven hundred. Just one year later he opened two more schools—a School of Arts and Technology for gifted children, and another elementary school. To date, the Mar Elias Educational Institution is the only non-Jewish college in Israel; it enrolls some 4,500, including Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim and Druze students.”[iii]

I firmly believe that if children witness their parent’s obvious sincere ongoing struggle to try to really know, love and trust God in all circumstances, then, when God calls the parents home to Himself, they will have left their children the most precious legacy. And only God knows what He may be pleased to do with it.

[ii] Ibid, p, 59-60.

[iii] Ibid, p. 232-234.