Shadow of the Almighty

Currently reading through “Shadow of the Almighty” The life & testament of Jim Elliot. A little background, Jim Elliott was a young Christian missionary who went to South America and was speared to death by tribal Auca Indians in 1956. His wife, Elisabeth, drawing from her husband’s diaries and letters, compiled the book. She beautifully displays the core of what made him commit his very being to God.

One thing that has hit me while reading, is Jim’s transparency. He was not some “superhuman” Christian… and it’s so encouraging to read of his struggles that are the same struggles I battle today. It’s a refreshing reminder of 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

The book is mostly comprised of his journal entries and letters written to friends and family (compiled by his wife). Knowing he gets killed in the end, it’s interesting reading through his journal/letters as he struggled with his very real passions and emotions. His love for Elisabeth as a young college student, and his love for God. His talk of papers and essays being due… I love how Elisabeth doesn’t leave out what seem like unimportant details. By leaving the part in where he writes his mom for pillowcases and other necessities, makes him more real to me. He used to put on his pants every day just like me!

I don’t know… there are a lot of things I experience, read, and hear that stir something within me that I can’t really put into words. I try my best to present my inner thoughts in a comprehensible way, but most of the time, I stumble over the fluidity of my sentences and the thoughts I’m trying to get across gets lost in my own rephrasing.

Maybe it’s because I relate so strongly with him. So much of what he wrote in his diary, unaware it would be read by a young Christian years in the future, feels like it’s been taken right out of my journal. That might be why it’s so refreshing, to take a personal look into the mind of an honest, real Christian. A man so evidently used by God is encouraging because I see myself in Him.

I take comfort in that, because Jim and I take comfort in the same God.

One other bit I enjoy from reading through, was Jim’s poetic mind. He occasionally would write to Elisabeth with such beautiful imagery… And his description of the west, and wild open land… something about it just moved me. He was studying ancient Hebrew and Greek and occasionally would write to her in Greek (what a romantic! haha).

There is so much to be learned from Christians who have passed from this physical world, and I pray I would be like these men (and women!) of old. I’m daily growing and learning, and I feel in my Spirit God has something in store, and I will wait patiently and joyfully as I live day to day, growing from grace to grace.

Check out the book if you can. Blessings,

Dan.