Introduction of the story of Wait Li
Introduction of the story of Wait Li
From the editor: The story of Wait Li is from Workers’ Stories by our Lord’s servant Dr. Song Sangjie. Even though it is a very short story, it reveals to us how important the worker’s own spiritual condition is to the ministry, even more than the work itself. In ministry, we often find it easy to lift up ourselves, steal God’s glory, take God’s status, and lead people to ourselves. Therefore, in order to reconnect with the Lord and regain strength, God’s workers need to constantly humble themselves, retreat into the Lord, reflect and repent in God’s holy light. When necessary, we need to temporarily put down our work and retreat to the “desert.” When we enter God’s light and see His face, we can calm our hearts and focus on spiritual growth. After renewing our lives and dying to our old selves, with ourselves completely belonging to God, we can then set off to work again. How much more effective our work will be!
God’s worker Wait Li had fast legs. He ran around the whole day working hard for the Lord. His time was so precious that he even preached while eating. Many people praised him for his zeal for the Lord. The more he was praised, the more zealous he became. He ran from the east to the west working nonstop. The more newspapers advertised for him, the more on fire he was. He traveled all over the country. In the beginning, he was motivated by his love for the Lord. Gradually, this changed and he was driven by fame. Now God’s time came: Wait Li became very ill and bedridden. He could not even move his legs. He had no choice but to retreat to Split Heaven Mount and rest. He was unwilling but he had to go.
On Split Heaven Mount, a servant of God named Potter Chen came to see him. Potter Chen had a ragged piece of clothes in his hand and told Wait Li to put it on. Li put the ragged clothes on but did not understand its meaning. Before leaving, Potter Chen told Wait Li: “All your work looks like these dirty pieces of rag in the eyes of a potter.” After three months, Potter Chen came again and gave him a dirty undergarment. Li was confused. This undergarment was covered with bedbugs and fleas. Although really unwilling and reluctant, Li had to put it on. Before departing, Chen said, “This is the condition of your heart. There are many holes which foxes could enter. The bedbugs are foxes and they give your no peace.” After another three months, Chen came again and gave Li a straw hat to put on his head. But the hat was too small for Li’s big head, and it did not fit but instead just barely sat on the top of his head. The wind came and blew the hat away. While leaving, Chen said, “This is the hat you’ve been wearing all these years. Your head is too big for it and cannot keep it in the wind.” Another three months passed, Potter Chen came again and brought Wait Li a pair of blood-stained pants. The pants were not only filthy but also torn with many holes. Li was unwilling to put them on, but he had no choice. Chen said, “This pair of pants stands for the hidden sin you have.” Three months later, Chen came and brought him a pair of worn and dusty shoes. Li was again unwilling, but he had to put the shoes on. Chen said to him, “This represents the roads you’ve traveled all these years.” Three more months later, Chen came and brought Li a Bible. Every single page of this Bible was covered by dust, making the words unreadable. On each page, only a few words were visible. Chen told Li that this showed how much he understood God’s Word. Every three months, Chen came and showed Li one thing. There were so many such things that Li could hardly count them.
After three years, one day Chen asked Li to put on all the things he had brought to take a picture. As Chen blew the air, Li broke down and repented tearfully, tearing his clothes in front of God. Chen asked him to wash and change into clean white garments, put on white crown and white shoes, and put a new Bible into his hands. Chen prayed for him, and Li’s legs were healed and he was able to stand up. Afterwards, in God’s name Wait Li brought a hundred thousand people to the Lord. Even though during these three years Potter Chen only accomplished this one thing regarding Wait Li, this one work is the miniature of the great work Wait Li did on the one hundred thousand. When Wait Li was raised up in spirit, a hundred thousand people were raised up with him. Even without Li’s preaching, these one hundred thousand people became God’s army, leading the whole nation to the Lord. Hallelujah!
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23, 24)
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles;
They shall ran and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah: 41: 31)
From Christ’ Workers at Home of Grace North America