Rescued and Saved
He fell asleep and I fell into the flames.
Joseph is a third-generation Christian in China. His grandparents planted churches and lived wholeheartedly for Christ and His Kingdom. Joseph’s parents prayed for him to be a servant of the Lord before he was even born. God had plans for his life long before he took his first breath. Many things happened to shape and prepare Joseph for ministry. This is his account of the Lord’s work in his life:
“When I was only one year old, my grandfather held me in his arms beside a blazing fire. He fell asleep and I fell into the flames. He quickly pulled me out and did all he could to cool me down, but it was too late. Much damage had been done to my small, little body. I saw many doctors, but they could do nothing to heal me. It wasn’t until I was prayed for at church and given over to God for His purposes that the Lord began to heal me, and today I have no scars. As I grew older, I resisted the pressure to become a Christian. My grandfather was quick to say that my life did not belong to me, but to God. This only pushed me further away from the Gospel. That is when the Lord chose to show me once more that he did indeed have ownership over my life. When I was nine years old, I went swimming in a lake to cool off from the hot summer heat. Something pulled me down deep into the water and I was close to unconsciousness and drowning. But before I blacked out completely, I remembered to pray. ’Save me, God!’ I cried. Just like that I felt someone pulling me up from the depths of the lake over to dry land. My uncle was nearby working, and I thought he was the one who had saved me. He wasn’t a Christian at that time and in fact, went out of his way to persecute believers, but what he witnessed in the lake changed his life. He told me that a hand reached down from the heavens and pulled me out of the water. We both gave our lives to Christ that day. God was not only real, but he loved me enough to pluck me from death a second time. He pursued me and when I relented and followed Him things only got more exciting. I spent years in ministry and when I was preparing to train further in a Bible school I was arrested. I was only 22 years old. For two years of my life, I was a prisoner in one of the darkest and most notorious prisons in China. It felt like a very real hell. I was beaten every day, but the other tortures that they inflicted upon me were much worse than physical punishments. It was an unforgettable and intensely painful time in my life. I prayed that God would help me keep my faith no matter what I had endured. The Lord did not forget me. I shared His truth and saw eight prisoners come to Christ. One became a pastor. I was released from prison in 2006 and have never stopped serving God. He continues to be faithful. We started a university ministry to reach young people. There are over 150 people in this ministry now. I am constantly pursued by the police, but I know the Lord watches over me.”
When I first heard Joseph’s story, I was reminded of this promise in 1 Peter 5:10: After you have suffered for a little while the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Joseph has suffered for the Lord. He knows the cost of serving Him. He is also familiar with God’s grace and has been confirmed and strengthened by His hand.
