IM
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
April, 1941
pastor, has been in p r i s o n now six weeks,” whispered Peace, "and t h e y say she prays day and night and has been fasting since Thursday.” Precious Faith nodded gravely. “The 'light of heaven seems in her face,” she whispered wistfully. “They say she prays only that he may stand true and witness a good confession.” Elder Kim, conducting the service in the absence of the pastor who had so bravely taught his people that to obey the government’s command to bow to the East was sin, and to worship at the shrine of the Sun Goddess was idol atry, took his place in the pulpit as calmly as though no foreign soldiers were in the church. Instead of open ing the service with the usual hymn of praise, he began to speak to the people in loving, fatherly tones. “My d e a r brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said, “we are gathered to gether to worship our risen Lord on this blessed Easter day. Let us remember that He is our r i s e * and glorified Saviour because first He laid down His life upon the cross, being nailed there to bear our sins. And how was His poor body—weary and worn with the sorrows., of the night in the Garden of Geth- semane and the trials before the chief priests and Herod and Pilate—how was it able to bear the blows o f His cruel . tormentors and pains of the cross ? Let us remember it was because He had given His body entirely to God to do with as He, the Father, should please. "And „such an example also has our dear pastor given to us his children. Truly the light of heaven did shine from his face as he said, ‘I was crucified with Christ, according to God’s Word, and my body I have given to God, my Father, to do with as He shall please. It is as good as dead to me.’ ” Elder Kim’s voice grew solemn as he leaned forward, looking earnestly into the upturned faces before him. “My dear children,” he cried, his deep voice ringing through the silent church, “I plead with you to remember you are not your own. You are bought with a price, the blood of Jesus; therefore, glorify God in your body—give your body a living sacrifice to Him. He will give you His risen life for every need and danger.” Even the children in that great con gregation felt a thrill of wonder and joy at the brave words of the old elder,' and as they rose to sing the beautiful Easter hymn, "Christ Arose,” their faces were shining with the same hqly courage that shone in his. But Precious Faith, standing with the others, was silent. She was not ready to sing—not yet. Elder Kim’s words had come like a searchlight into her for lorn little heart where, like shadows, The Fears were ruling that morning. She saw now the gate that let them in. It was an unyielded body. Her own little body that had been bought with
Jesus’ precious blood had never been given to God to use in just any way He saw best. It had always seemed to belong to her to use for Him, that is, sometimes, and yet, very often to use as she liked for herself. Now she was truly giving it to Him. She knew it was a miracle that was happening quietly in her heart, for The Fears were disappearing and it seemed that the Lord Jesus Himself took their place and was bringing in His own great peace and joy. 'They were singing the chorus to the last verse now, and Precious Faith sang joyfully, “He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!” As the glorious chorus began to die away, Elder Kim lifted his hands for the people to bow in prayer, when suddenly there came the sound of sharp, quick, tramping soldier feet in the aisles. As the officers neared the front of the*church, the young choir leader who was standing on the platform with Elder Kim stretched out his arms to the people and cried, « “We will sing ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’ ” And with a sudden burst of song the hundreds of voices caught up the words— “A mighty Fortress is our God, A Bulwark never -failing.” They were finishing the last verse now ... . “ Sing it over!” cried the young lead er, waving his arms, and beginning again - at the first verse, the people sang on. How they did sing—their hearts thrilled to so confess their God before their ene mies! What could the officers do? In vain they motioned to the people to be quiet; their iriouths opened and closed; their even white.,teeth flashed; they were talk ing, shouting, but who could hear them ? Like holy thunder the song rolled on. Then, furiously they rushed up thé steps, catching and binding the choir leader and Eldér Kim, and, dragging out of their places in^the congregation sev eral other church officers, they carried them off as prisoners. * As Precious Faith sped home that never-to-be-forgotten day, her heart beat high with courage and faith. “If only my dear brother could have been there,” she thought, “how he would have loved singing down those officers so they could not command us to bow to the East or go to the shrine—how I wonder where he is—anyway,” lifting her head proud ly. “He is somewhere being a true wit- * * Stronger grew the volume, . “Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is for ever,”
ness to God as he could not be in a school where he had to bow to the shrine.” As she entered her own door, she stopped in amazement. Her mother stood trembling with wjiite face and clasped hands before two officers. They turned at once on Precious Faith, demanding roughly that she tell them where her brother was hiding. Drawing herself up as tall as she could, she said bravely, "I do not know,” and her heart added, “and I would not tell if I could.” Angered at her fearlessness, one of the men caught her by the arm. “You come with us,” he exclaimed. And in a moment more she—Precious Faith— who had walked that very street free and on her way to church a few hours before, was being stared at by all pass ers-by as, with hands tied behind her, she was pushed along by the officers. With her mother’s wail of grief in her ears, and under the cold, curious stares of the people on the street, sud denly she felt her girlish heart losing its warmth of courage. The rope was cutting her wrists and the soldier’s rough grasp hurt her arm. The door of the dreaded police station opened, and then an inner door was unlocked and one officer led her in and untied her hands while another;wrote something on the wall behind her. The door of the cell clanged, the key turned in the lock, and Precious Faith looked about her. A t the far end of the rather long cell were huddled together three women—their matted hair and dirty clothes showed they had been pris oners for a long time. The dainty girl shivered as she looked at them/ She, too, would look like that if she had to stay many days. Their cold, unfriendly eyes made her feel terribly alone. She turned to look back of her. There was only a blank wall—but no, there was writing on it. There were the names of the other prisoners and the crimes for which they were imprisoned. Scarce ly thinking, she read them—then sud denly, her name, Sinok, t*recious Faith, and under it, “For Jesus.” She stood spellbound, forgetful of her surround ings—she, Precious Faith, was suffering for Jesus! It seemed as though her heart would burst with the joy that filled it. She, little Precious Faith, like her own noble brother; like the dear pastor; like the saints of olden time, she had the honor of suffering for His dear sake who had died for her. She could not keep silent with such a flood of joy in her heart, and she turned to . the poor women and spoke to them lovingly, telling them that she worshiped the one true God who made heaven and earth and who had given His Son to die for the sins of all men. “He is my Saviour; I have r e c e i v e d Him,” she said simply, “and He lives in my heart and fills me with His com- [Continued on, Page 158]
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