Dayalan Sanders, a native of Sri Lanka, made it a habit of rising at 4:00 in the morning to go to the beach to pray. He, his wife, and two other helpers take care of 28 children, most of whom have been orphaned by the civil war on that island. Early the morning of December 26th, the sea was calm and the weather was fair, but for some reason Dayalan had difficulty praying. As he tried to think through the things he wanted to teach in church that Sunday morning, there seemed to be an oppression that he could not explain. He went back to his bedroom, laid down, and fell asleep.
A short time later, Dayalan’s wife woke him in a panic. “Look outside! Something is wrong!” The sea was in an uproar. Husband and wife and their young daughter ran outside yelling for everyone to run to the boathouse. Incredibly all 28 orphans arrived at the boathouse within seconds. Usually the motor was stored in a different location, but on this morning the motor was on the boat ready to go. Thirty-three people hopped aboard the little craft built for ten or twelve adults. As they rode out into the lagoon, a huge wave was coming toward them. Faith welled up in Dayalan Sanders and he raised his hands and shouted, “Based on the Scripture that says, ‘When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him’, in the Name of Jesus, I command you to stop!” The wave subsided. The boat stayed afloat. All 33 people lived through the storm that destroyed their compound and ripped their village to shreds.
The CNN reporter didn’t know what to do with this man who claimed he commanded the waves by the same power that allowed Jesus to calm the waves when He was in a storm. Dayalan Sanders does not claim to be special. He has been a voice of comfort to the many Hindus in his village whose lives have been overturned. He has cried tears of sorrow as he has lost friends and neighbors. But he has a message to share… as do 28 orphans.
Listening to this man tell his story (find the Jan 10 and 11 broadcasts at www.focusonthefamily.org), one cannot help but realize an obvious truth: This brother had prepared for the storm long before it came. In the heat of the moment, there is no time for preparation. This man did not sit at his desk after his wife’s warning and think, “Now what would be an appropriate Scripture for this pending doom?” The Word was within him. Though he was just a man, he knew God. Whether he lived or died, he knew God. Though the storm of the century was threatening to destroy everything in its path, he knew God. The oil was burning… a wise virgin had heeded the Master’s instruction… a simple servant trusted an all-powerful God. He can’t answer all the questions that have been asked. He does not think he is better than anyone else. But He knows God.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came, ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said, ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13