Page 6 - Good News December 2009 paper

Continued from p. 1
said as she stood beside her panel
white and pure. van. “Remember, He is the Saviour
On a very hot summer’s day, when of the world, the Bright and
the flies were everywhere and the Morning Star.” Tears were stream-
land needed rain, “Mama” Grace ing down her face as the vehicle
had announced that it was lurched away.
Christmas Day. She said it was a Staring out of the small, barred
very important day, and everyone window, Tembo saw a particularly
must stop what they were doing bright star. He wondered where the
and listen to her story. Nobody missionary lady was and if she was
minded stopping work, and soon all still telling people about Jesus, the
were gathered under the tree. Bright and Morning Star. Probably
“Mama” Grace told the Christmas she had died by now and had gone
story. She had little carved figu- to that place called Heaven that she
rines that she carefully set out on a had so often spoken of. Tembo had
table. God sent His Son, Jesus, to left his home as a teenager in order
be the Saviour of the world, to save to find work in a faraway place.
us from our sin. There, life had been so different and
The star guided the Wise Men to the frightening. As time went by, he got
stable, and there the Baby Jesus caught up with bad people and
lay in a humble straw bed. Each found himself doing bad things.
Wise Man had a gift for the new He never thought about his home or
King. The shepherds, people like his mother and father. It made him
them who watched over sheep and deeply unhappy to do so. They
goats, were kneeling before Jesus, would be so sorrowful if they knew
worshipping Him. the life he was leading. He hadn’t
Angels with outspread wings, were been back home for many, many
standing behind the Baby’s years. Now, in a lonely prison cell,
parents. As the missionary lady set past memories flooded his mind as
out the scene she began to sing, “O he stared up at the star.
come let us adore Him! O come let “And you shall call His Name
us adore Him! O come let us adore JESUS, for He shall save His people
Him, Christ the Lord!” from their sins.” Tembo recited the
Lying on his prison bed, Tembo was verse and was thinking of those
surprised that he could still afternoons underneath the big
remember the tune. He hummed it thorn tree. The missionary lady
through a couple of times, and then would be surprised and pleased to
put the words to it. know that he had remembered
Before he could reach the end of these words. He climbed down
the song, tears were streaming from his bed and knelt down,
down his face and he started bowing his head.
sobbing. So much had happened “Jesus, Saviour of the World,” he
since that Christmas Day nearly prayed, “please save me from my
twenty-five years ago. “Mama” sins. Wash them away in Your
Grace had said that to put your trust blood, and give me a clean heart. Be
in this Saviour of the world would my Bright and Morning Star.”
be to enjoy peace and great joy. When Christmas morning broke
There had been no peace or joy in over that prison house, a “sinner
his life for many a year. He groaned saved by grace” woke up with a
aloud when he thought of all the evil smile on his face.
he had done. NOW he understood everything
But back on that day, he hadn’t that “Mama” Grace had taught
understood what the missionary them all those years ago. Now he
lady had been saying, and it too could worship Christ the King!
seemed, neither had any of the That Christmas day, other priso-
other villagers. A couple of months ners woke to the sound of Tembo’s
later, “Mama” Grace, with a sad rich voice singing:
look in her eyes, had packed her “O come let us adore Him!
few belongings and said goodbye O come let us adore Him!
to them all. “Jesus is the One to O come let us adore Him,
save you from your sin,” she had Christ the Lord!”