The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun
I picked up The Heavenly Man because I was sick of my endless theological books which can often leave me feeling smarter yet less dependent upon God. I started reading Yun's story Thursday night and finished it by the next evening, refreshed and awakened (despite not having slept since I read through the night).
Yun was called by God at a young age be a witness 'to the west and south' in a dangerous nation and beyond. As Yun followed this calling he encountered prolonged imprisonment and extreme torture. "Yun's testimony is written with blood and tears; his journey has been one that encountered many bitter struggles. Instead of complaining and grumbling, he learned to tackle all obstacles prayerfully, on his knees with God" said Zhang Rongliang. God ultimately used Yun to bring Himself great glory as one of China's house church leaders, although it was not without pain and discipline.
I was greatly challenged by Yun's words,
The people who really suffer are those who never experience God's presence. The way to have God's presence is by walking through hardship and suffering - the way of the cross. You may not be beaten or imprisoned for your faith, but I am convinced each Christian will have a cross to bear in his or her life... When you're faced with such trials, the key is not to run from them or fight them, but to embrace them as friends. When you do this you'll not fail to experience God's presence and help.Yun cried out for God in the midst of suffering, torture, even slander. Yun's faith allowed him to rejoice in the most horrific of moments, and he concluded, "The world can do nothing to a Christian who has no fear of man." Each page of Yun's story challenged me to awake from complacency and Western comforts. His life is an example of total, prayerful, God glorifying surrender.
"Everyone is this world is a slave. They're either salves to sin, or slaved to Christ. Our 'rights' are in the hands of Jesus."
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