For North Korea - A Jug of Water

I first saw Richard Wurmbrand at a men's meeting when I was 14 years of age. Don't remember a word he said, but do remember how he stripped himself to the waist to show his audience holes bored into his body during confinement in Communist prisons. This was my first step toward the persecuted church. I went to his (Romanian) homeland twice in the 80's and twice more after Communism was gone, when guns on every corner had been replaced by cell phones. Worked for the organization he founded as a representative for a year. I shall always honor this man who lived a life of incredible suffering coupled with incredible joy and victory, a living proof to all who cared to look of the reality of the Christian message, and the Christ Himself.

Brother Wurmbrand started a mission to the Communist world that later evolved into a worldwide effort to be a "Voice of the Martyrs." One of his target lands was, of course, North Korea. He told the story of North Korean children whose ears were punctured by cruel men so that they could no longer hear the Gospel message. What a parable these children became of a nation. Chosun's collective ear has been punctured by the cruel government that leads it to destruction at this very hour. A nation that cannot hear the Gospel is condemned to suffer the worst Satan has to offer.

What can we do? Christ suffers in North Korea. He calls His people to pray, to give, to go, to weep. He literally aches for our attention. Again, Wurmbrand, and a story he loved:

He said that there are many "tales" told of the Christ that do not claim to be "inspired" yet they paint a reality about Him. One is about how Jesus asks one of His disciples to fetch Him a jug of water, as He is thirsty. The man immediately leaves on his errand. He sees a woman carrying such a vessel. She is a beautiful woman. He is so struck with her beauty that he follows her home . He falls madly in love with the woman. Marries her. Three children are born. He literally lives in a paradise for 20 years. Then disaster strikes. Wife and children are all killed, and the man is desperate.

Soon he hears a voice from Heaven. It is the voice of the Lord, asking, "Where is that jug of water?" For though 20 years had passed on earth, only a few minutes had passed in Heaven. The Lord still was thirsty.

Is it too far-fetched to imagine a thirsty Christ in North Korea asking His disciples for some refreshment? How long must He wait and how many distractions will keep us from obedience? And how many North Koreans must keep suffering while we are occupied in making ourselves happy?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

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. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.