Timeless Truths From The Bible, God's Divine Appointments...Adoniram Judson

Описание: Previously, we have looked at biblical examples in the lives of three individuals, Joseph, Judah, and Jonah, where the Lord was supernaturally controlling events in the natural world to achieve His divine purposes. These are not coincidences but rather God miraculously working in the lives of these people to bring about His desired results.

However, these divine appointments have not been limited to biblical times. Indeed, the story of Adoniram Judson would make this clear...

Judson was a Baptist minister who was the first American to bring the gospel to the East. When he arrived on Burma’s Golden Shore in 1814, he was met with unfriendliness, maltreatment, and imprisonment. He suffered a number of severe tropical illnesses and a number of personal sorrows.

However, despite all the various forms of discouragement he carried on his missionary work; eventually making the first translation of the Bible into the Burmese language. He also compiled the first English-Burmese dictionary. His life is the story of a hardworking, courageous man who unrelentingly performed his missionary calling in a foreign land.

Adoniram Judson grew up the son of a strict Congregationalist minister where church was his entire life. While growing up it became obvious to all that he was a brilliant student. While a teenager, he was also ambitious, wanting to make the most of his special gifts but never sure exactly who he wanted to be.

He eventually entered Brown University in Providence Rhode Island. When there, Judson came under the influence of older students who were non-Christians. His closest friend, as well as his greatest influence, was a member of the class ahead of him--Jacob Eames of Belfast, Maine.

Eames was described as “amiable, talented, witty, with good manners. Yet, he was a confirmed Deist who rejected all revealed religion including the Bible. A very strong bond united these two young men based upon similar tastes and feelings. Judson, the preacher’s son, soon became as great an unbeliever as his best friend Eames.

Eames and Judson discussed what they would do with their lives. They thought about law politics, and literature. However, the ministry was never even considered. Judson’s belief system had crashed like the proverbial house of cards.

After he graduated from Brown with the highest honors. Judson eventually told his parents of his unbelief. Shocked and saddened, his mother in particular, would continually pray for him. Her prayers would not go unanswered.

In fact, we can point to three events, seemingly unrelated, that were to change the direction of his life.

First, after graduating from Brown, aspiring to get into the theater, he went to New York to work. He found the entire experience unsatisfying. He abruptly left.

Second, on the way back he stayed once again at the parsonage of his uncle Ephraim, where he had left his horse.

His uncle was away and a young minister, about his age, was there. They spoke for several hours, where Judson realized that unlike himself, this young man had peace in his heart as opposed to his inner conflict. He was duly impressed.

Finally, his third divine appointment would change the direction of his life. As he rode away, he found himself passing through a small village at night.

Finding the local inn, he asked the innkeeper for a room. The house was full except for one room which was next to a young man who lay critically ill, perhaps even dying. Adoniram reckoned that he would not let a few noises bother him, so he took the room and attempted to go to sleep.

What disturbed him was the thought that this man might not be prepared for death. He wondered if he was prepared. Adoniram then began to think about how he would face death when it came.

As he was thinking on these things, another part of him jeered at the thought. What would his classmates at Brown have to say about this. Above all, what would Jacob Eames say—the clearheaded skeptical, witty talented best friend?

Waking up the next morning he could hardly believe he had given in to such weakness. Finding the innkeeper he asked for the bill. He noticed the man was somber faced. Judson causally asked if the man in the next room was any better. “He is dead,” was the answer.

“Dead?” Judson was taken aback. There was a heavy finality to the word. He then asked the inevitable question: Do you know who he was?

“Oh yes, the innkeeper said, a young man from the college in Providence. Name was Eames, Jacob Eames.”

Hearing these words put him in a state of shock. Realizing this was a divine appointment, he eventually turned his life over to Christ and began his life as a missionary. The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways!

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