Prisoner #66730

Eastford Baptist Church
November 9, 2006

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Many people knew her only as #66730. Oh, there were a few who knew her name, and she longed for it to be spoken more often. But the confines of prison had reduced her to a mere number. She had lived a difficult life. Her father had died in a German Concentration Camp. Her beloved sister, Betsy had fallen to the same fate. Since the beginning of the German occupation so much had changed. So much had been lost. Her freedom, her dignity, her humanity had all been stripped away by those who imprisoned her. Yet she somehow had managed to live on. They had taken from her every earthly thing she had ever possessed – but they couldn’t take away the One who possessed her, Jesus Christ. Moved from one prison to another she finally arrived as a slave at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. While there she was constantly looking for opportunities to minister to others. Her solitary aim while in prison was to tell others about the amazing grace of her Lord. She vowed if God allowed her to live, she would tell as many people as possible about the love and forgiveness she had found in Jesus Christ. Then one day, miraculously, she was released. When the war was over, she began traveling and speaking. She shared the good news of her Savior and the vision he had given her. The message was simple, Jesus died to provide complete forgiveness of every sin and calls us to forgive others the same way. Then one day while speaking at a church in Germany, something happened that shook her to the very core of her being. Here, in her own words is that event:

“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there, the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsy’s pain blanched face. He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message Fraulein,” he said. “To think, as you say, He has washed my sins away!”

His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendall the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side. Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man: was I going to ask for more? “Lord Jesus,” I prayed, “Forgive me and help me to forgive him.” I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer, “Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.” As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that this world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”

You may recognize the story of prisoner #66730 as the story of Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie is living proof that God provides the grace and the power to accomplish every task to which he calls us in this life. No matter the situation, no matter how difficult it may seem – God’s grace is greater still. The verse above says, “God is able” to make all grace abound – in all things – at all times – having all that you need - you will abound - in every good work. Focus on the first three words in this verse – “God is able” You might not feel able to face a situation right now. You might be feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, under-resourced, and directionless. You might be thinking, “ I am not able to face this.” If so, you are in a perfect position for a miraculous movement of God in your life. You are in a perfect position to discover what God revealed to Corrie Ten Boom, and what He has been revealing to all who follow Him through the ages. He doesn’t want us to rely on our strength and resources alone. He longs for us to trust Him enough to supply what is needed when those impossible situations come along. It is in making the impossible possible that He is able to bring glory to Himself and reveal His faithfulness. I believe God often just waits for the moment when we come to the end of ourselves and cry out to Him for help. It’s then that He has the wonderful opportunity to reveal how sufficient His grace and power really are.

What impossible situation are you facing today? According to this verse – right now – His desire would be for you to re-discover His abounding grace. Calm your heart. Pause for a moment and ask Him to provide for your need. Trust that He is truly is able to provide what you need, and experience His faithfulness once again.

Thanking Him for His abounding grace, PT