THE
TRIBAL
TEST

A Very
Short Story
. . . with Long Lasting Implications

Missionary Charles T. Kenner joyfully watched Chief Madobo get off his knees after having prayed. "Tell Chief Madobo that his name is now permanently written in the Book of life, his sins are forgiven, he's going to Heaven when he dies," Charles told the interpreter, who then repeated it to Madobo.    Chief Madobo kept smiling and expressing with his hands that he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. A tear ran down his cheek.    Charles couldn't help but shed tears of joy himself. After several months of tedious Bible study through an interpreter, he had finally exposed the African chief to enough Bible verses to get him saved.    Charles gave Madobo a firm hug, then turned to the interpreter. "Tell Madobo that I must go tell the other three missionaries what has happened. They will praise God when they learn of his salvation . . ."    Charles made his way back to the camp and found two of the missionaries, Edgar and Watson, having a discussion several yards from the large primary tent. "Gentlemen, praise God. Chief Madobo has accepted Christ as his personal Saviour."    "THAT'S WONDERFUL! Our prayers have been answered." Edgar said, looking at Watson, who was also encouraged by the news.    "I wish you could have been there," continued Charles. "He finally saw his need. You could see the conviction all over his face. And this time, he didn't hesitate to let go of his idols. It was full repentance on his part."    Charles quickly looked around the camp. "Where is Tim, that sibling of mine? He should hear about this."    The two other men quietly glanced at each other.    "Well?   Where is he?   What's the problem?"    "He took off into the woods when we sat to have Bible study with one of the tribesmen," Edgar said. "His heart didn't seem to be in it. In fact, he's been getting more irritable as time goes on. We have a serious concern about your brother's . . . well, we . . ."    "What Edgar is trying to say," interjected Watson, "is that we have our doubts as to whether Tim is truly saved. He's rebellious at times. God doesn't seem to be giving him the grace he needs to put up with these strenuous conditions."    Charles studied the two men. "So what would you have me to do?"    "Well, his behavior is sending mixed signals to some of the tribesmen. He's beginning to undermine our efforts. We thought maybe you could have a talk with him . . ."    "And say what?" Charles said. "Only the Holy Spirit can reveal his lost state. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until Tim admits he's not saved, if indeed he's not."

That night, while all four men were gathered, Edgar suddenly heard something in the distance.    "What is that noise?" Edgar tilted his head, trying to pinpoint its origin.    "Drums!   They sound like drums," Watson said, getting up from his chair.   "I'm going outside to hear better."    "But I thought they were only played before an attack?" Edgar said.    "They are," Charles added.    "But who could they possibly be attacking?" Tim said.    Edgar stood up and rushed to the tent's entrance. He looked outside, scanning along the outer edge of the campfire's light. "I can't see Watson!   He's gone!"    "GONE?" Tim said.    "Everyone, settle down," Charles said. "He probably went to find the interpreter . . ."    Twenty minutes later, Edgar stood once again at the tent's entrance. "I think the drums are getting louder."    "And where, on earth, is Watson?" Tim said, jumping up from his chair.    "Sit down," Charles said. "We will have none of that."    "Charles?" Edgar asked. "Who would they be attacking? There is no other tribe within a hundred miles."    Charles paused and altered his gaze between Tim and Edgar. "That should be obvious, gentlemen."    "YOU MEAN US!" Tim began wringing his hands.    "Tim, I told you to sit and . . ."    "AND WHAT? BE KILLED?" Tim began pacing around the tent. "I thought you said Madobo got saved? You said he's now a born again Christian. True born again Christians don't go around attacking other Christians!"    "They don't panic, either," Charles added.    Tim suddenly stopped, looked at the other two and slowly made his way back to his chair. Charles studied him the whole time.    Edgar, trying to stay as calm as possible, said, "Charles, perhaps it would be prudent to ready our firearms. In the extreme case that . . ."    Charles slowly shook his head. "And send those poor unsaved souls to Hell? I'm afraid that would be counterproductive to our cause."    "How about if we make a run for it, then?"    "Cowardliness is not a good testimony, especially to these people," Charles said. "Besides, we've already taught them about Christ's sacrificial love and that ‘perfect love casteth out fear:’ (1 John 4:18). It would look hypocritical to display fear at this point. It would undermine the efforts of any future missionaries."    "Future missionaries?" Tim raised his eyebrows and looked at Charles' face, realizing what his brother had in mind. "You're not suggesting we just sit here and let them kill us?"

"It's the only way they'll ever have a chance of getting saved. If we kill them, they'll go straight to Hell without a chance of salvation. If we allow them to kill us, being saved, we'll go to Heaven. And God could use our fearless willingness to die as a powerful testimony to help get them saved later on."    Edgar nodded. "I see your rationale. It makes perfect sense."    Tim desperately looked at Charles and Edgar. "I don't agree . . . let's vote on this!"    "What for?" Charles said. "It is clearly a majority rule now."    The drums suddenly became louder. All three men paused to listen, realizing the attack could begin at any moment.    "Very well then," Charles said, opening his Bible. "The Bible warns us to: ‘Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?’ (2 Cor. 13:5). I therefore suggest that we quietly meditate on . . ."    "THIS IS INSANE!" Tim jumped out of his chair again. "You're assuming that they'll just kill us. What if they torture us instead? Has that occurred to you?"    "Then God will give us the grace to endure the pain," Charles answered.    The drums stopped. Tim nervously smiled. "You hear that? It's over . . . they changed their minds . . . they're not going to attack after all."    Charles quickly made his way to the tent's entrance, poking his head outside to listen. He could hear a faint commotion in the distance gradually getting louder. He pulled his head back in. "Gentlemen, they are rapidly approaching. We must get on our knees and pray for God's grace."    Edgar and Charles kneeled down. Tim remained standing, breathing rapidly.    "Tim! Get down on your knees!"    The rustling sounds of rapidly approaching warriors intensified.    "I CAN'T!" Tim said, shaking hysterically. "It's no use!" He could now hear the rustling right outside the camp. "I don't want to die! I'll go to Hell if I do! I'M NOT SAVED! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? I'M NOT SAVED!"    Tim saw the tent's flap begin to open and threw himself to the ground screaming. Chief Madobo, with his face covered in war paint, walked in, followed by the interpreter and several warriors bearing spears. The chief made his way toward Tim then stood over him. Tim was curled up in a quivering ball, crying like a baby. Madobo placed his spear's razor sharp tip against Tim's neck. Tim's crying intensified when he felt the spear's point against his skin.    Charles, still kneeling, looked up at the interpreter. "That's good enough. Tell Chief Madobo that my brother has already admitted he's not saved, and thank the chief for his cooperation. Oh, tell him also that if it were possible I'd nominate him for an Oscar . . ."

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).

BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isa. 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Rom. 3:23.
And Jesus, referring to sinners, said that He:
"shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity [sinners]; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."   Mat. 13:41-42

SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   Eph. 2:8-9   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5.

THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   (Rom. 5:8-9)   THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.
"if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Rom. 10:9

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