In 2 Samuel 7:3, we find an example of how people can fool themselves if they fail to become silent and allow God to speak to them. David sincerely wanted to build a house for the Lord, and the prophet Nathan approved of this plan. However, neither asked God, who eventually had to speak to the prophet one night to make clear His disapproval. By not making room for silence, both men of God had come to the wrong conclusions, because God’s guidance—received in silence—is often quite different from what our human lines of thinking suggest.
A similar chain of events occurred when David was to be anointed as king. Samuel thought Eliab was the elect, but the Lord disagreed; in the end, His choice fell on David, the most unlikely one to human eyes. Imagine the consequences if Samuel had acted at his own discretion and had not let himself be guided by God. The words the Lord spoke then are still true today: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Even our Savior had difficulty recognizing God’s will in Gethsemane, facing the prospect of torture and death. His flesh wanted to make a different choice, but He held fast in prayer and deep devotion to God, and the power from above helped Him do the Father’s will. Although the Lord had been chosen from the beginning to accomplish the work of salvation, and although He had come into the world to serve as the Lamb of God and bear the world’s sins, and had repeatedly spoken of how this would end, He had a hard time following the Father’s way. Had there been any other possible way, He would not have drunk from this cup.
We all have our struggles when times are tough. Let us have patience for each other when someone is having difficulty choosing the right way.
In His hour of need, the Lord asked for the help of three of His disciples in prayer. They failed, but through His devotion, the Lord nonetheless found the right path. And what a blessing that has been for all of us! Still, we can see that it is not always easy to know God’s will. Very often, His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are quite different from ours. We can count on God’s blessings only if we act according to His will and let ourselves be guided by His Spirit.
After the death of my wife on August 3, 1963, I lived with my children Heinrich and Klara Weissburger in Rio das Antas for a few months. In late 1963, I moved to Joinville to help with the work there; there was a lot to do.
During the hot summer months, I made two trips to see my children in Rio das Antas. Because of my heart condition, I do not tolerate the heat well. When I returned from those visits, I stayed with the Bekerts for a few months, but since my children moved to Joinville in September 1965, I have been living with them.
In recent years, the Lord has given grace for a new church to be built here. Since Brother Hinz, the congregation’s former pastor, put a lot of time into the construction efforts, most of the pastoral work fell to me. The church was built between 1963 and 1964. In addition, a two-story building was built so that the printing works of the Church of God (Grafica Luz) could be moved to Joinville from Rio das Antas. During this second construction period, from 1965 to 1966, much of the pastoral work rested on my shoulders as well. In 1964, I had also started a Bible school with evening classes in Joinville.
A number of other assembly places sprang up too, for which we can only thank the Lord; we also thank Him for the many spiritual coworkers He sent us. Ever since my son Heinrich came to Joinville, he has taken over many of my duties, but I support everything he does with a prayerful heart. May God continue to grace us with His blessings. One particularly clear recipient of His blessings so far has been the annual camp meeting in Joinville, which serves to significantly spread the reach of God’s Kingdom.
Until my 80th year, I was still able to do a lot of spiritual work. For the past few months, however, I have become increasingly sick and weak, and my hearing has also declined. I assume that the hot, humid climate here in Joinville is to blame.
The Apostle Paul’s wish is now also mine: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:21–24).
It would be so beautiful to be with the Lord. On the other hand, there is great need for people to do the Lord’s work here on Earth. In any case, my heart is still beating and still burning for God, and although I cannot do much, I see my main task now as praying for the work of the Lord. I also make pastoral visits to the extent that God gives me the strength.
The years I have spent working in Joinville were extremely blessed. It was the most successful period of the many years I served in the ministry throughout my life. Even now, the Lord continues to create opportunities and open new doors. But who will do the work? May the Lord send workers into His harvest.
Looking back, I can only be grateful for all of God’s guidance in my life. May the Lord’s will continue to be done in future. What He does is always good. To this day in my life, the Lord has not yet failed to deliver on His promise: “I will be with you!“
That is a good place to end my autobiography. The Lord has done so much for me that I cannot list everything. He has shown me so much kindness and mercy that it is impossible for me to write everything down.
I am about to turn 81. Soon, the time will come when the Lord takes me home to be with Him forever. There, I will be able to fully understand the kindness He has shown me so abundantly. Blessed be the Lord!
Salomon Weissburger
(born February 21,1887;
died October 23,1968)
Be the first to comment