Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

YADH HADAVAR (The Hand in the Word)

“. . . God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Rom. 4:17. The future is as real to God as the present or past is to men. His will is sure, and blessed are those who believe Him without reservation. Let me illustrate.

In 1968, I became the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Duncan, OK which had just endorsed a missionary to Australia. It would be a new mission field for the churches of the ABA, and one most difficult to open. But both the missionary and sponsoring church were convinced it was the will of God to go there. As time drew near for departure, the visa had not been granted despite much communication with various officials. Were we all wrong in discerning the will of God?

Realizing that the apostle Paul witnessed before kings and magistrates, it was determined to not give up until the last possible effort. That last resort was a telephone call to the Prime Minister of Australia to appeal the matter, knowing the whole effort was hanging in the balance. When the lady answering the phone at Government House in Canberra told me that both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister were out of the country, disillusionment rose to new heights; however, the lady urged me to lay out my case to her, which I did. The reply was that we would hear about the matter soon.

Three days later, the Consulate General’s office in New York called to announce, “I have your visa in my hand!”

A few years afterward, a trip was made to Australia to visit, and to assist in securing land on which to build. While there, a trip was made to the capital city, Canberra. The gentleman who had staffed the Consulate General’s office In New York invited us to breakfast the next day. His burning question was: “How in the world did you manage to get to talk with the lady in Government House? Do you know who she was? She was the private secretary to the Prime Minister who was noted for wielding more power than he. Many people would pay great sums of money to speak with her.”

Later, we drove to the top of a significant hill overlooking the beautiful broad avenue leading to Government House on the other end. Where were we standing? On Mount Ainslie Gotto, so named after the lady whom God used to help open Australia to our mission effort, and the flow of missionaries that would follow.

Most often the Hand of God is clearly seen in retrospect, which makes it a perennial joy of holy experience. One may look back, smile,

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