Dec 24, 2007

God wants all people to be saved (1 Tim 2:4). May be you are wondering how much God wants it?

Dean Dales Simanjuntak reflected God’s will in his own life. He has been a disciple of Jesus for 13 years and now he is a father of a beautiful daughter. He was telling his experience on how God has worked thru him with so much compassion. Although there are many challenges in his life, Dean has been a faithful disciple of Jesus.

Dean has a younger brother who has been working in Batam for many years. His name is Ruis. Ruis has become ill and had to return to their hometown in Tebing Tinggi. Because of his severe condition, Ruis had to be treated in the hospital for several weeks before the doctor confirmed that his condition was out of hand. Ruis had a serious complication.

When Ruis was in the hospital, Dean visited him regularly and always tried to encourage and strengthen the family. Dean does not have much financially. Many times he didn’t know how to help Ruis and his family. And then the doctor informed the family that with his condition, Ruis could only survive for another month.

The family decided to bring Ruis home. Ruis has lost his hope. The doctor has stated that his illness was incurable. However Dean kept trying to encourage and strengthen his brother’s heart. He wanted to be able to give something to his beloved brother during the remaining days he has. He prayed and asked God to do a miracle.

Ruis got weaker and weaker. He had to lie down on his bed all day and needed help in order to get up. Dean wanted to win his brother over to God but some tough challenges were: the distance between Tebing Tinggi and Medan, his low budget, his responsibilities in office and he needs somebody available to teach Ruis the Word of God daily.

After praying and asking for advises, Dean found some solutions; he would travel back and forth using a motorbike – it takes 3 hours to reach Tebing Tinggi. He took courage to ask his boss for a leave to be with his brother and he is going to teach Ruis the bible by himself!

It was amazing how God enabled Dean to preach His Word to Ruis. After about one week Ruis confessed his sins and ask for forgiveness from his parents. When he wanted to be baptized, his parents was hesitated, however seeing his earnestness, they gave in. Ruiz was sure about what he wanted. He was baptized on June 21, 2007. Some church members and leaders from the Medan church came to be with him for that special moment. Ruis suddenly got his strength, he was smiling and walking to his bed by himself. Dean was overjoyed, he said "I feel so happy and touched. Since he got sick, this is the first time I see him smiling!"

Well, we know that not only Ruis, God in heaven with His angels are also smiling and having party too...