Obeying God’s voice

EUNICE ANN VAN ZYL WRITES:

The first miracle that the Lord Jesus Christ did was at a wedding: It was the result of obedience.

John 2:5 New King James Bible: 'His mother said to the servants: “Whatever He says to you, do it.”'

I believe the testimony I am about to share should answer the question: Can we really hear God’s voice?

This incident happened in 1997 but for the past two weeks the Holy Spirit kept bringing it to my remembrance. Why it must be retold now I do not know. I do know that obeying God’s voice brings about the intended result.

From the Windhoek Observer:

Lord told her to visit Garoëb

My purpose in writing this letter is twofold. Firstly, I believe that I owe it to Mr. Garoëb to set the record straight regarding his spiritual condition at the time of his death. Secondly, I would like to encourage those who are holding on to bitterness and unforgivingness to let go.

Regarding prayer for those in authority in a country it is sometimes better to be totally ignorant of what kind of person one is praying for. This allows prayer without prejudice.

Such was the case for me involving Mr. Garoëb. I became acquainted with Mr. Garoëb’s wife Monica in March this year through interest in the fate of street children. In retrospect I believe it was all orchestrated by the Lord for the mission that he wanted to send me on.

It was when Mr. Garoëb became ill that I heard that he was Monica’s husband and also a minister, and I of course offered to go and pray for him, which I did.

I honestly do not know whether I would have gone back to visit him. A few days later however the Lord spoke to me, telling me to go to Mr. Garoëb and tell him to give his heart to the Lord. The scripture that the Lord told me to read to him is found in Isaiah 1:18: "Come let us reason together says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

The circumstances surrounding how I got to see Mr. Garoëb on the day that I obeyed the Lord was a miracle within itself.

I stood at his bedside that day in April and delivered the message exactly as I had received it from the Lord. When I asked Mr. Garoëb whether he was ready to repent before the Lord and to give his heart to the Lord, his answer was “I am more than ready”.

Like a child he repeated the sinners’ prayer after me. He even added the words, “I believe that with all of my heart” when we said the part “I believe that the Lord Jesus died for me”. When we finished the prayer Mr. Garoëb’s words were “I feel completely transformed.” I could also see a look of peace on his face.

There is a story in die Bible about a man called Saul. He looked on approvingly as the Lord’s servant Stephen was stoned to death. In Acts 9 we read the power of the Lord came upon Saul and he was transformed.

My visit to Mr. Garoëb’s hospital room that date was a profound and humbling experience for me. I felt privileged that I could do what the Lord had asked me to.

As the Lord in this infinite mercy is willing to forgive us, so we should forgive our neighbour. Death can come upon anyone like a thief in the night.

The Bible says in Matthew 24: “No-one knows about the day or the hour.” It speaks about the return of the Lord Jesus.

Narrowed down to the individual, it means that we do not know the hour or the day of our departing from this earth. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God our Saviour wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Mr. Garoëb’s last words to me before I left the room that day was, “I am not afraid of dying, I’ve made right with my Lord.”

I would like to end this letter by saying, to whom it may apply: May the Lord be gracious unto you as you repent before Him and turn to Him with all of your heart. This day if you hear this voice, do not harden your heart. The time is short.

To God be all the honour and all the glory, I am a servant of His Majesty King Jesus.