Skip Navigation

The Terror of Sin

Lori Smith, Papua New Guinea

I remember hearing so many times as a young person preparing for the mission field, "Those people are happy as they are. Don't try to change them with your religion and 'Christian' ways." I only wish the people who said that could see what I have seen this last week in Papua New Guinea. There is no way they could find even a grain of happiness in the field of satanic affliction my village neighbors are experiencing now.

We became aware of a problem brewing in neighboring village earlier this week. A young boy was taken hostage by people in his own family’s village. We still are not sure of the reasoning behind this insane action, but it could only have been initiated by Satan's control of these people. This lad, only fourteen years old, was brutally murdered. His body was thrown into the pit toilet in pieces.

Rage and retaliation sparked into a bonfire of intense battle. I will never forget the scene. By the middle of the week, from our clinic on the side of the main road, we saw women and children running with utter terror in their eyes. Many were unclothed or barely clothed as they escaped the blaze of their homes which were lit on fire.

Some mothers pulling toddlers along had to leave their little infants behind. One such baby was dropped at our clinic fence. He had only a too-big tee shirt covering his shivering little body. His mom had to flee for her life, and she could just no longer carry the burdensome weight of all her children. One had to be left. I am sure the burden on her heart was much heavier than the weight of his little body, but she was desperate and terrorized.

Hopeless was the only word that came to my mind as I viewed this horrific scene. Yet, God often sends His help to the hurting through human hands. We do have true hope to share with the hopeless. There is an anchor that is sure despite the intensity of the stormy gale. Our Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ, can offer them stability when all their earthly possessions are lost. He alone, ourdwelling place, can bring them safety. Our Prince of Peace can rule hearts torn apart by grief and fear.

No, they are not "happy as they are." They are lost and afraid, blindly following the road leading to their destruction. Sin and satanic control of lives is truly terrifying. We must be those hands that reach out, sharing the truth, to rescue them before it is too late.