Detour for a Brother

“Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NAS.

After serving in Asia for 27 years, Henry* and Betty Beck understand that detours happen. On occasion those detours can even turn into divine appointments. Such was the case after leadership training on a remote island in Indonesia.

Only one airplane a day came to the island; a small, twenty-seat, single prop Cessna. Bad weather caused a flight cancellation, but the Becks had another training to lead on another island, so they asked about travel alternatives. A speed boat was chartered for them for a 45 minute ride to a neighboring island that had more flight possibilities. The waves were choppy. About every five seconds for 45 minutes the boat would lift off the water and then slam down again. Henry prayed for the rapture as the boat hopped along.

Well shaken, but still in one piece, the Becks arrived at the larger island. They soon found that all the flights were booked for several days. Again the Becks asked for alternatives, and passage was booked for them on a ship that would take them to yet another still larger island. Their cabin on the ship was about the size of a small walk-in closet.

That evening the ship’s captain invited them to dine as his guests. Henry ended up sitting next to a 55-year-old Javanese man named Rudolph. Rudolph was a follower of Jesus. He had come to faith through a series of dreams. When Rudolph leanred that Henry led Christian leadership conferences, he called him Tuan Henry. “Tuan” is a term a respect used for high officials. It is also a way in Javanese culture of distancing yourself from a person.

Henry immediately said, “No Rudolph, I’m not Tuan, I’m Pak (the regular address for friends and family).” Henry went on to explain that in God’s Kingdom all are equal. Before the Father in Heaven, young and old are the same.

“Yes,” said Rudolph. “That is how it will be in heaven.”

“No,” said Henry. “That is how it is supposed to be right now. You are my brother.”

Rudolph’s eyes lit up as he thought about what Henry had told him. They enjoyed many other times of fellowship on the ship before their arrival at the next island. When Henry and Betty were getting off the ship Rudolph came up. He smiled and told Henry, “Good bye my brother. We will meet again.”

Thinking about the torturous detour, Henry thought, “I will not be surprised if God shows me in heaven that the only reason He had for this detour was for me to tell Rudolph about our equal standing before Him.” Henry smiled and thought, “And that does make it all worth while!”

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

Believers will see God’s hand in all the “detours” that come their way.

Rudolph’s understanding of God’s equal love will help him to be a better ambassador to his countrymen who still need to hear about and see Christ’s love.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.