FATHER I FORGIVE THEM

 

                   

                             Steve Saint with his father's killer

The following  is another account of the Auca mission’s ripple effect; the story as given by Steve Saint, son of Nate Saint the pilot “As I made my final approach to the short jungle airstrip, I could tell I was coming in a little high. I pushed the flap lever all the way down, but it still wasn't going to be enough to get me down on the tiny mud and grass strip. I decided to pick up speed, staying on the approach glide path to get the feel for my next try.

I had just spent three weeks building a new airstrip with the Huaorani (Auca) people, but this was my first landing in Auca territory.  Racing down the field just ten feet in the air, I could clearly see the faces of the Huaorani people lining the strip. As I banked to the left to start another approach, I could see the river and what was left of the sandbar where my father, Nate Saint, had made, the very first approach ever in Auca territory, just 40 years ago.

He and fellow missionaries Jim, Ed, Pete and Roger had set up camp on that little sandbar in hopes of making contact with the primitive Aucas, The five missionaries had a deep burden to share the gospel message with a people known only for their fierce hatred of outsiders. Their initial friendly contact ended in death by spearing. Crossing the final bushes, I cut the power and the wheels touched down solid.

I hopped out to say hello. Dad, I remembered, had flown off the beach each afternoon while awaiting the first contact with the Auca. So much was the same and yet circumstances were so different! The past three weeks I had been carving a new airstrip out of the virgin jungle with "the people" some of whom had murdered my father and his friends just before my fifth birthday.

Mincaye, with whom I had just gone hunting, who laughed and joked about everything, had been on the beach that fateful day in 1956. Dyuwi, who hung around our camp each night waiting for a break in the conversation so he could thank Wangongi (creator God) for keeping us safe from falling trees, Konga ants and poisonous snakes. He too had been there, just a teenager then and an upcoming killer.

Kimo, who brought his canoe full of provisions so we would have plenty to eat while we worked on the strip, had also been there. He told me that the last of the five young cowodi (strangers) had fled across the river and instead of fleeing into the jungle and safety, had climbed onto a log and called in poor Huao "We aren't going to hurt you. Why are you killing us?" Kimo had listened to this plea and then ran a nine foot hardwood spear through the stranger’s chest.

Why did these gentle, kindhearted men I had been eating, sleeping, and working alongside kill my father and his friends? Why did the missionaries not defend themselves with guns against primitive spears? Why leave five young women widowed, nine children fatherless? What had caused the Huaorani to kill the very men who had called to them that they were friends; men who had exchanged gifts with them on a line dropped from the circling plane?

Paul addressed the Philippians letter “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (1:1).  In chapter 1 verse 21 he gave his personal, life mission statement: “for to me to live is Christ, to die is Gain”.  What did Paul mean by “To live is Christ”? The phrase meant that all that was true of Christ was also true of him; he was living out the life of Christ. A study of the lives of Jesus and Paul reveals many similarities; both made a sacrificial service, both experienced much suffering . Yet, both continually exuded joy and served God faithfully.

Paul told the Athenians that God “is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:27:28). He wrote to the Galatians “it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God” (Gal. 2:20).  He told the Colossians “set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated...set your mind on things above not on earthly things for you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

To “live is Christ” means to exalt Christ through everything we do. It means growing to know Christ intimately (Phil. 3:10) so that we can imitate his life. Wherever we are and whatever we do we always think “what would Jesus do” in such a situation. It means to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). To “live is Christ” means submitting all of our thoughts, emotions, words, and deeds to the lordship of Christ, so that we seek to please Him in all respects.

Every aspect of life must be centered on the Lord. If we do we shall live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that we may have endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the father (Col. 1:10). Paul relied on the Spirit so that he could “live Christ” in every situation. The Holy Spirit is available to us today.

Paul states that “to die is gain”. He did not view life as tough and death as escape or relief; to the contrary his life was filled with joy, even though his circumstances were difficult (Phil.1:18). He had his eyes fixed on Jesus who for the joy set before him endured the cross scorning its shame (Heb 12:2). He viewed life as sweet fellowship with Christ and a joyful opportunity of serving God. God wants us to live life to the fullest and to serve Him joyfully as long as we have life.

Sometimes when life is difficult, or when a person suffers from a chronic, painful disease, he longs for relief and may be tempted even to take his own life. Sometimes even godly men get into such a state of depression that they would rather die than live. Moses (Num. 11:15), Elijah (1 king 19:4), Jeremiah (Jer. 20:14-18), and Jonah (Jon.4:3,8)  all hit low points where they asked God to take their lives.

Death is an enemy that robs us of the presence of our loved ones. Scripture doesn’t condemn grieving; in fact, it tells us to “weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). Jesus wept with Mary and Martha at Lazarus’ tomb, even though He knew He was about to raise him from the dead (John 11:35). As Christians, we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess.4:13), but we still grieve.

We think of death as a terrible loss, the ultimate defeat. When treatments are exhausted doctors say, “There is nothing more we can do” in an attitude of defeat and resignation. When a loved one dies we often say “we have lost them.” We view death as tragic and we go to great effort and expense to hang on to life for as long as possible.  But this was not Paul’s attitude toward death. To him death was not loss; it was gain! He saw it not as defeat, he saw it as victory.

Paul was not suicidal or morbid; but he was expendable. If God were to call him to heaven, that suited him just fine. If, by his faithful witness in dying, he could bear witness to the hope of the gospel, then he was ready to go. Paul had worked hard and suffered much for the cause of Christ (2 Cor. 11:23-29).  Death meant leaving behind the suffering and groaning of this life and entering the presence of God, where sorrow and sickness do not exist.

The most frightening thing in the world is death. This should be so for unbelievers because death seals their fate eternally. But when a Christian dies, it is the beginning of another life, the step into eternal glory. We gain a better body, a better home and better fellowship. When this perishable will have put on the imperishable and this mortal will have put on immortality, then death is swallowed up in victory (1Cor. 15:54-55).   

We should not expect to remain on this earth forever. We must always live in view of both the certainty of death and the uncertainty of when it will occur. We cannot live the Christian life well unless we understand the Christian perspective on death. Our views of death must be based on God’s revelation to us in His Word, not on speculations. Of those who do not know God. Death opens the door for us to receive the promised returns on all that we have invested for Christ.  

If you work hard for Christ now, to die will be gain because your work will be over and you will get a well deserved rest. You’ll have all eternity to celebrate your victories, but only one short day before sunset to win them. Always remember the famous saying “Only one life, it will soon be past; only what is done for Christ will last.” What is your life mission statement; is it “for me to live is wealth /fame and to die is to lose it all”?