If I Could Be Born Again

I have met only two North Koreans. Both times it was a great honor. On the last occasion, I proudly shook the young man's hand and promised to write to him. He does not know how much I owe him. He cannot comprehend the message he conveys to the West by his mere existence.

According to his testimony, there are several other things he does not comprehend. Like family, and friendship. Well, you'd have trouble with these commodities too if you had been born and raised in a Communist concentration camp. If the only life you knew was the animal-like existence of underprivileged humans whose only role in life was to keep the NK machine rolling smoothly for the dictator. If your parents were so abused by their "superiors" that they abused you in turn.

That was his life. Somewhere down the line someone truly offended the Dear Leader and his regime. So the family of that someone was considered a threat, and kept in a labor camp. Those who were given husband-wife privilege produced more slaves for the government. He was so produced. But there was no family life, no warmth, no affection. Parents, yes. But no parenting. Only work, beatings, eat, sleep, die.

One day a fellow laborer was talking about the outside world, and the thought of such a thing began to consume him. He had to escape.Through a series of incredible experiences he was able first to get to North Korea, then China, and eventually to South Korea.

He is still a young man, but has lived many lifetimes. Family members executed. Torture to his own body. The absence of friendship and nearly everything humans come to value as they exist here. Seemingly hopeless.

But here is where Christ comes in. Here is where He is shown to be mighty and truly different from all others who deal with us. "Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," He says.

One of the saddest moments of the young man's presentation was in response to a question about what he would like most. He told of seeing a mother in Seoul holding the hand of her daughter. That simple image captivated him. He told the questioner, "If I could be born again, I would like to have that."

And he was talking of being the child, not the parent. He simply wants to understand by experience what it means to be loved by another human being. Yes, it is the cry of all our hearts. How much more one who still cannot even comprehend it?

Will you pray that this young Korean man will know that love? And the love of friends, and the love of a woman, and the love of children, but above all the love of God that will communicate to him that all his offenses have been wiped clean, forgiven, erased. That he truly can be born again. That life can start over.

Here is our chance to personalize all this affection we feel for the Korean situation. Here is a chance to make a difference. Let us pray.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.