The Lock On The Gate

Spring 1972 brought an integral moment in my life. Not that I was around. Yet one act of antagonism towards some Christians in 1972 would have repercussions that would affect the lives of many, including mine.

For several years a small Christian organisation had run summer camps on a farm in Co. Sligo, but with three months until the next camp, a problem arose. The organisers of the camp went to the farm, only to find out that the owner had passed away. He had been sympathetic to the camps and had generously let them use his land, as well as build a temporary structure for the work. The problem was with those who inherited the farm. They’re immediate move was to put a lock on the gate. Access to the field for the camp was forbidden. They would have to remove the temporary structure and find somewhere else to run their camps. Thus started an important series of events that would affect my life and the lives of many others.

Through prayer and contacts an opportunity the Lord opened the door to move the camp across the country to a holiday caravan park in Co. Wexford. This later developed into many weeks of summer clubs being held at the caravan site. In due time another couple from Northern Ireland came to minister in the Republic and got involved in running seven weeks of these clubs in Co. Wexford.

In the late 90’s my parents took a holiday to a caravan park in Co. Wexford with 3 children in tow. To cut a long story short, my older siblings went to the summer clubs and my parents signed us up to receive regular Bible lessons in the post. This would lead to me going to summer camp in teenage years and hearing the gospel, eventually leading to my salvation at age seventeen, 40 years and a few months after that lock was placed on the gate.

I’m not the only one who can trace my salvation back to this point. I was once preaching on Psalm 66, telling of how we all have a story to tell of how God did work, and is working in our lives. I shared this story as an illustration, and everyone was in tears. It was a room full of first generation Christians from Co. Wexford. And that church had been planted by someone who first came down to be a helper at the summer clubs in the caravan park and felt the burden for that area of the island.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” These were the words of Joseph as he saw those antagonistic brothers of his. Try, just try, to stop God from doing good. You can’t. He is determined to bring forth good fruit in this earth, and nothing can stand in his way. Even evil he will use for blessing.

I am sure those relatives thought they’d really won one over on those despised Christians. I’m sure they gloated for a brief moment or two as they said, “good riddance!” But little did they know of the immense goodness of God’s heart. I really hope that they became believers later in life. I hope that I can meet them one day in the new creation and speak to them the words of Joseph, and together praise the God who brings good from evil. But either way, the truth remains. Even the most seemingly insignificant act of evil against the work of God, he will turn it for blessing. How great is his heart towards this earth.

This is what Joseph realised had happened in his own life, yet he also recognised the impact for the lives of thousands. And given how Genesis starts, it serves as a hopeful reminder that even the cosmic level of evil will one day be reversed for even greater blessing as the Lord renews all of creation.

I happen to know the origin of this story because it was recorded in a book. How many more elements am I unaware of? How many small acts of good or evil have been committed that God’s hand has used to bless me? It is impossible to know. And so it is in all our lives. And the ripple effect is such that hundreds, and perhaps thousands, across continents, have heard of Jesus through those who have been saved as a result of that work in Co. Wexford. I pray there will even be believers in South Asia who can trace their story back to that lock on the gate.

Let us look for the hand of God in our life, let us see his heart that cannot but bless, and let us not fear the acts of evil against us. Let us recognise them as an avenue for the ever-blessing heart of God to penetrate this world with his goodness. He cannot be stopped.