Friday, November 11, 2011

Like Nothing I Have Ever Seen

Last night, after I got home from Bible study (a wonderful time where I got to fellowship with other women, learn from them, and grow in my relationship with the Lord), Lawrence and I watched a documentary on the country of North Korea. The lives of the people there couldn't be more different from what I had just experienced a few minutes earlier during Bible study!

The fact that the documentary was even made is remarkable, given the complete and total control the leader of North Korea has over the people of his country. No cell phones are allowed in the country. All television, newspapers, and any other sources of media are controlled by the government. The leader is a complete dictator, using fear to cripple his people and keep them loyal to him. Despite the people having no economy whatsoever (no imports are allowed) and many of their children facing starvation (malnutrition for sure!), they continue to worship this leader. They sing praises to him and believe he can do no wrong. Oh how saddened I was to see this. My heart just broke as they give their lives to this man who is robbing them of true joy and a full life. And I wondered how this would change. How would these people learn of Jesus?

The documentary was possible because of an amazing man who lives in Nepal. He is an eye surgeon and was allowed to enter North Korea to perform 1,000 eye surgeries in just 10 days! Through some special process 1,000 individuals were chosen by the Great Leader (as he is called) to have surgery to restore their sight in one or both eyes. And the crazy thing was that each one of these 1,000 people gave credit and praise to the Great Leader for their restored vision, not evening thinking to thank the man who had actually performed the surgery and risked his life to come to their country and provide this free service!

"Minders" or government officials followed the man's medical team, keeping a watchful eye over their every move. Because of this, the makers of the documentary weren't able to get a true picture of what life is like in North Korea, but what they did capture on film was absolutely amazing. Not in a good way, but in a way that makes your heart drop to your bowels. Your heart breaks into thousands of pieces as you watch, helpless to do anything. Getting out of North Korea is nearly impossible. The border between North and South Korea not only has the land mines (the most in the world) but barbed wire fencing that has high voltage electricity shooting through it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And if you can manage to escape via the border of China, your family remaining in North Korea will be put in a concentration camp like those from World War II and Hitler's Nazi regime. Getting into North Korea (like you would want to) is practically impossible as well. No foreigners are allowed, except with special permission from the Great Leader.

This morning I woke up thinking about the people of North Korea. How fitting that today is Veterans' Day and we can celebrate living in a free country. Yes, many men and women have sacrificed to make this freedom possible. And today more than ever, I am so very thankful for them, and the freedom we have in the United States as a result of their faithful service. I am even more thankful for the life and freedom I have in Christ. I am child of the King, cherished in God's sight, and dearly loved by the Creator of the universe. And so today more than ever, I am also thankful for Jesus Christ and the salvation that is possible through Him.

I pray that one day, SOON, the people of North Korea will be able to experience both political and spiritual freedom, that their lives will be completely and forever changed so that they too can enjoy true life, peace, and joy that comes through Jesus Christ!

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