The Day Jesus Looked Up to a Man

Being tall is a limited option for the North Korean. Due to ongoing malnutrition caused by flood , famine, in many cases inhumane treatment, and of course Communism itself, there is a significant height difference between North Korean citizens and their South Korean counterparts.
For example, take the adult population in the South between 20 and 40 years of age. The average male is about 5′8″, and the average female, approaching 5′3″. But in the North that same-aged man would be a little over 5′5″ and his wife just over 5′.

Will the shortness continue, maybe even worsen? Without God's intervention, alas, North Korea, they say, could become a separate race of humans altogether. Although near miraculous growth can take place when one escapes to the South, in the North the situation is so bad as to have forced the government into changing the military's height requirement.

Does God care about short people? Yes, especially when they are not stopped by their predicament as they seek for Him. I was reading just this morning the story of a short man who knew Jesus was in town. It's found in Luke 19. The man is Zacchaeus, and what he lacked in physical stature he more than compensated for in cleverness. By his own admission, his cleverness had led him into great sin, cheating the people of his day out of their hard-earned wages.

But then Jesus came along. Zacchaeus had heard of the wonder-worker and the sin-forgiver and the One claiming to be Messiah, even God. Using one last burst of clever thinking, as the old Sunday School song relates,

"He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord He wanted to see,

And as the Savior passed that way,

He looked up in the tree, and He said,

'Zacchaeus, you come down, for I'm going to your house for tea.' "

Well, the British had not taken over that part of the world by then, so we can debate the "tea" part of the song. But suffice it to say that before that day had passed, short Zacchaeus was a new man. Jesus had looked up to Him, and he had looked up to Jesus, and found eternal life.

I could not help putting this story into the context of our short friends in the top half of the Korean peninsula. Through no fault of their own, they have become the spectacle of the world. Small in stature. Small in diet. Small in privilege. Small in standing. Small in opportunity.

But no matter. Jesus is passing this way. When Jesus comes into view, the small can become great and those who think they are great can become small. In an instant. I'd like to see that, wouldn't you? Pray with me about it! Jesus, pass through North Korea, today and every day.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com. Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .