Thoughts for another day

March 1, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Peter 3:15. and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Kit worked as an officer in the Buildings department of the Municipality. The head of the department was Amit, a man notorious for corruption, embezzlement and extortion.   Every day, Kit saw scores of people calling upon Amit for one thing or other and every day he saw huge sums of money being handed over to people in his department, most of it being pocketed by Amit.  Although tempted because of his low salary, Kit never took a penny from anyone; in fact it sickened him to see such greed for money in everyone in the department.  Only his firm commitment to the Lord kept greed away from him; and God’s Grace strengthened his will to keep his hands clean.  Amit, his boss would often ask him to shuffle papers of those who had bribed him and Kit would often remind him that there were others, earlier in the queue, but Amit would get his way. 

Suddenly one day, there was a raid by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) and all in the department were arrested including Kit.  Their houses were sealed, their bank accounts frozen. Everything turned topsy-turvy for the entire lot.  These men who boasted of connections at the top, couldn’t get help from anybody, neither could they explain the source of money found in their homes.  Kit was also implicated because of the reputation of the department in which everyone was assumed to be corrupt though they found nothing at his home. His jail term was waived away miraculously by the judge, although he wasn’t fully exonerated and mercifully, his bank account was un-frozen.  He was suspended from work and faced a bleak future with the shame society reserved for him.  His friends and colleagues knew he was innocent, but no one came forward as the case was taken up at the highest levels and no one wanted to be involved.  Despite all this, Kit somehow managed to smile.  Inside he was miserable and often he would think how he could ever get into such trouble despite living the way God wanted him to.  Yet, his faith didn’t dwindle and when people offered their regrets, all he did was smile and say, its okay.  His friends from the church helped a lot during the crisis as they knew him but even they couldn’t fathom the reason for the comfort on his face.  He just told one thing:  I have hoped in the Lord and I know that anyone who hopes in Him, doesn’t hope in hopelessness! 

Some time went by; Kit shook the entire episode of his mind, yet never lost faith that God would do something for him.  He managed to look after his family with a small job offered him by a church member.  Then one day, he was summoned by the Municipal Corporation and told it was a mistake the ACB had made in arresting and implicating him; and though they tried to find some wrong, they never could as Kit’s hands were clean and every other person in the department corroborated that he was honest.  It was therefore decided, he would be re-instated into service; not as an officer but as the head of the department; suggested by the mayor; and all his back pay was to be paid to him with twice the interest, which the judge had ordered!  It was a fantastic shock for Kit and even as he accepted the re-instatement, his face beamed with gratitude to God, Who he knew had made this happen.  He had lead Kit through the lean time but never abandoned him and then promoted him so wonderfully for he knew that even if he were to work all his life he’d never have become the head of the department.  Putting aside all shame, he knelt there itself and glorified the God of Israel, Who had so wonderfully worked things out for him, true to His promise.  Glory to God.