A True Hero

     When we think of heroes and heroines we often think of those who display superhuman power, exhibit fearless courage in the face of life and death situations and save countless innocent lives.  While Marvel has created many animated heroes, God has raised up real men and women who, through the supernatural aid of Christ, have impacted this world more than Superman ever could.  One of those unsung heroes is Elisabeth Elliot. 

     Like so many greats of the faith, Elisabeth's life started with humble beginnings.  Born to missionary parents who served in Belguim, Elisabeth made her entrance into the world on December
21, 1926.  She was one of six children with one sister and four brothers.
     When the time came to go to college she decided to study classical Greek which would allow her to work as a Bible translator.  It was during her college years attending Wheaton, that she met Jim Elliot, a handsome young man with a contagious smile.  Upon meeting him, it didn't take long for Elisabeth to note his love for the Lord and his passion to serve Him wholeheartedly.  After getting to know each other, it soon became apparent to Jim that if he was to marry, Elisabeth would be his bride.  The key word in that sentence is if.  Because of Jim's desire to walk in complete obedience to Christ to the disregard of his own will or plans, his proposal to Elizabeth was unusual.  He loved Elisabeth but he knew that God was calling him to singleness.  For how long, he did not know but what he did know was that He must obey. 
      During the proceeding five years, God showed himself faithful to both Elisabeth and Jim and in His timing He brought them together.  After years of study and prayerfully seeking the Lord individually, God lead both of them to serve Him in Ecuador.  In 1953, Elisabeth Howard and Jim Elliot were married, no longer to serve the Lord as singles but now as a married couple.
      When Jim learned about a hostile native tribe in Ecuador, who had not been reached, his interest was peaked.  Again, Jim felt the the call of
God on his heart and decided he must work to bring the gospel to these people.  Along with four other men, a plan was birthed.  This plan would lead to the murder of all five men of God who willingly and freely dedicated their lives to the Lord for His service.  In January 1956, when Jim and Elisabeth's daughter, Valerie, was 10 months old, Elisabeth's husband went to be with his Savior.
     We often wonder why when it seems like the plans of the righteous are thwarted.  This incident could have left 28 year old Elisabeth bitter at God, but instead she simply chose to trust her Lord.  Along with the other women who were widowed,  her response was this:

"We just felt that God was in the whole thing, and there wasn’t anything that 

had happened that was not in the Providence of God.”

      

     With what seemed like a closed door, Elisabeth, along with her daughter, returned to her work with the Quichua Indians for two years.  During this time she met two Auca women whom she saw as her key to unlocking the closed door that kept her from returning the hate of the men who killed her husband and fellow missionaries with the love of Christ and the gospel.  Elisabeth was able to return to the Auca tribe and sow the seeds of the gospel on the ground that had been prepared through her husband's shed blood.  God has done great things and the savage is now her kinsman.  

Elizabeth with Valerie and some Indian women

     After serving the tribe for two years, she returned to her work with the Quichua tribe and remained there until 1963 when she returned to the U.S.   But her ministry didn't stop upon setting her feet on American soil.  

      Elisabeth continued to walk in obedience to the Savior she loved as she lived a life that was tethered to the truth.  Both through her writing and radio program, Gateway to Joy, Elisabeth has and continues to impact the lives of many.  She has written 20 books and her radio program aired for 13 years and was a predecessor to Revive Our Hearts.  God has used this woman, who was completely yielded to Him, greatly.  

     As for family life, Elisabeth raised Valerie and was joined in marriage to Addison Leitch until he passed away in 1973 due to cancer.  I guess she was just such a good catch that upon swimming back into the singles pool it didn't take long for her to get hitched again, this time to Lars Gren making her name really Elisabeth Howard Elliot Leitch Gren.  

     After years of dedicated service to Jesus Christ, Elisabeth finally got to meet Him face to face this past Sunday, June 14th.  I am sure she heard the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  While we mourn the loss of a soldier we rejoice in the addition of a witness. She is a true hero of the faith.  She has gone before. May we follow in the steps of her example.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

(Glory to God alone!)