Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with an interesting missionary story.
You can read the story for yourself in John Dougill’s book, “In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians.” It's about the history of Christianity in Japan going back to the days when Francis Xavier first arrived in 1549. Francis was a Jesuit missionary who had a passion to reach Asia for the Lord Jesus. When he arrived in the port city of Kagoshima, he was warmly received and quickly made friends. Now remember, this is back in the 1500’s, many centuries ago, but just listen to this amazing excerpt describing Xavier's preaching in a Japanese town where he spent four months. Okay, here’s the scene: Francis Xavier is preaching twice a day in an abandoned Buddhist temple and people are flocking to come and listen to what this interesting foreigner has to say. Now here’s the excerpt:
“People flocked to the temple to hear the twice daily talks, with samurai and Japanese noblemen staying to engage Xavier in discussion afterwards. What were the questions these people had for this missionary? 'Why did God create evil and suffering if He is almighty? Why should it be impossible to get out of hell once consigned there? And why should ancestors be sent there if they had never had the chance to learn of Christianity?'”
Now I think this excerpt is really fascinating because I was stunned to read how people as far back as 500 years ago and halfway around the world, and in a completely different culture with a completely different language, had the exact same questions as our modern neighbors and friends. Five hundred years ago people were wrestling with the problem of suffering and the goodness of God. They had questions about evil and heaven and hell, as well as questions about the providence of God. What struck me most? Well, when it comes to suffering and dealing with hardship, these same questions these Japanese people asked Xavier over 500 years ago are the same questions being asked today. The question of suffering and God's goodness is truly a universal question for all time and for all peoples.
And I venture to say you wrestle with the same questions. I know I have struggled to understand God's goodness when it comes to my own broken neck and resulting paralysis. I didn’t think much about the goodness of God or suffering or heaven or hell — even when I was a Christian on my feet. But when I had to suddenly contend with a life of total paralysis, then I was just like those Japanese people in the town of Kagoshima — I wanted to know; I wanted to understand; I wanted to get engaged. And praise God, there are answers to these age-old questions about suffering and God's goodness. Now, I can’t pretend to grasp all of God's reasons behind our afflictions, but I can at lease share a few insights which have strengthened my faith over the years — and I want to share those insights with you in a booklet called “Where is God When Things Go Wrong?” And you can get your free copy today by visiting my radio page at joniandfriends.org.
Finally, aren’t you glad, aren’t you grateful, aren’t you amazed that the same Christ who satisfied the curiosity of those early Christians in Japan is the same Savior who can satisfy your deepest questions? For as Alan Redpath once wrote, “There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch you until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to you. If it has come that far, it has come with great purpose.” And part of that purpose is to show how good God can be in the midst of every suffering.
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