Urinated On, Spat On, Making A Joyful Noise

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to buy a few things from the VOM bookstore and recently I started reading one of the books I purchased called If Prison Walls Could Speak, and all I can say is that if you want to hear the heart of man who knew suffering, and also intense love for Christ, please get the book.

I'm still pondering these words from Richard Wurbrand in Chapter 2 which is called A Joyful Noise Unto the Lord.

Mysterious Ruler,

Today it seems quite pointless for me to speak to You.

Humiliation destroys a soul far more easily than torture.  This morning the examining officer asked me to open my mouth.  They often do this to check that you don't have any poison hidden in it.  But when I opened my mouth this time, he spat in it.  I swallowed the phlegm.

Then he ordered me to kneel.  His warm urine ran down my face.  How stupid can one be.  The verse which came into my mind at that moment was one about "the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard." (Psalm 133:2)

Do we have your attention?  This opening really got my attention because to be frank, it's pretty disgusting.  It amazes me sometimes how evil mankind really can be.  Decent people do not do cruel and humiliating things like this to another human being made in God's image.  Which is exactly where Richard went in his writing about the incident.  Somehow through all of his pondering and the purpose of this abuse Richard Wurbrand ultimately came to this conclusion about the guard.

If I had to die today, I would like my last breath to be not a prayer or a hymn, but just a joyful noise.  The tra-la-la can be joyful because I may meet in heaven the man who humiliated me. He has as many chances of salvation as I have...

So this officer's chances of going to heaven are equal with mine.  I cannot imagine how any conversation between us will be possible there.  It will be too difficult for him to apologize; he will not be able to explain or justify his action.  I shall  not be able to speak any kind words.  We shall simply take each other's hands and cry out ecstatically some loud, senseless noise.

Is your heart touched by this?  Mine sure is, even as I typed this tears came to my eyes because what Richard is conveying is so truly powerful.  And yet when you think about it, when Jesus accepts us, and we receive Him as our child - together we will be forever, making joyful noises together, even though we may have have treated Him, the very way that guard treated Richard.