Revised from the book Little Lame Walter, by N. I Saloff-Astakhoff, published by Grace Press, Inc.
Walter’s War
Part Three: The Conquest
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him…” (2 Timothy 2:12)
The communistic leaders of the orphanage are determined to break up Walter’s band and destroy their faith. Faced with hunger and robbed of their New Testaments, the future looks very dark. But Walter clings to the promises of God and sets himself to endure it all for Jesus’ sake.
A famine was settling over the country, and soon food supplies began to run out in the orphanage. The Communist directors decided to send the children out to raid from the gardens and orchards around them. “Those who bring back food will be rewarded,” they said. “But if you stay here, you shall have nothing to eat.” The manager of the home looked directly at Walter and his little band.
When the younger ones gathered around Walter for advice, he encouraged them to be faithful to do what was right. “It would be better to starve than to sin against the Lord Jesus by stealing,” he reminded them. “He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, so let us tell Him all about it.”
With heavy hearts they all knelt together, pouring out their troubles to their faithful Friend. “Dear Jesus, please help us! I am so hungry,” began little Johnny. “I do not want to sin against You. Even when the nurses say I must go steal from the neighbor’s garden, I will not do it.” He began to cry, and his sister, Annie, put her arms around him. “Yes, help us, dear Jesus,” agreed the others. “Give us strength and protect us. Keep us from being made to steal!”
In the days of hunger and suffering that followed, the comforting promises of God gave the young soldiers hope. Though Walter could no longer read from the New Testament, the words of life were hidden deep in his heart. Often the Lord brought a verse to his mind just when it was most needed. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Jesus,” he encouraged the other children when they were punished for not joining the raiding party. “He sees the sparrows fall, and He knows everything that troubles us.”
As good soldiers, the young Christians had to endure much hardness to please Jesus. And it wasn’t in vain. Though most of the other orphans ignored or mocked their desire to do right, some began to desire the peace and hope they had. One girl was especially interested. Alexandra was fourteen, a little older than Walter, and had recently come to the orphanage. Her father had been a bitter communist and had taught her to be an atheist, but she couldn’t help but admire these brave children who suffered so patiently.
“Why do you love each other so much and always speak kindly?” she asked Walter one day. “Don’t you feel angry and want to hit the manager when she laughs at you? How can you bear it all?”
“It is because we love the Lord Jesus,” he said simply. “I used to be hateful and cruel, but Jesus changed my heart. When I think about how much He loved me and suffered for me, I want to be like Him.” He looked down at Johnny who clung to his hand, and smiled. “You see, our God is love and He tells us to love one another as He loved us.”
“Could there be a God of love after all?” Alexandra wondered. “All this selfishness and hate makes everyone miserable. Is it possible to be happy if we give up trying to serve ourselves and serve this Lord Jesus instead?” As she watched the lives of His faithful followers, Alexandra became convinced. Soon another heart was conquered by the love of Jesus and ready to join in the battle of right.
“Where do those brats get their stupid ideas?” the director asked Alexandra one day, after the children hid so they wouldn’t be sent out raiding for food. “Aren’t they hungry?”
“It is wrong to steal from other people, and you know it,” the young believer replied boldly. “We will soon have to stand before God who will judge us for our deeds. What will you say then?”
“You know better than to believe such nonsense,” the director said scornfully.
“It isn’t nonsense,” Alexandra replied. “Don’t you feel convicted that you are doing wrong? If you repent and believe in Jesus, you will be forgiven!”
The face of the director turned red with anger. “So you also have fallen for their lies. We will see who will repent soon enough,” she muttered, as she turned away. It wasn’t long before the children learned what she meant.
“Look, Walter!” Annie said excitedly, a few days later. “We have been all given red stars to wear on our hats!” The bright red stars had been sent by the Communistic leaders and soon all of the children were dancing around with delight. Except Walter. A troubled look came across his face as he looked at his cap, and Annie knew something was wrong. He slipped outside as a rousing Revolutionary tune began to play. It wasn’t long before the little band had followed Walter into the tall weeds behind the barn.
“Why aren’t you glad about your star? Why don’t you put on your cap?” they asked, gathering around him.
“Sit down and I will tell you,” Walter said, hushing them. As they all settled in the grass, he continued. “I think wearing them is a sin before Jesus, so that’s why I’m not happy about them.”
“Why is it a sin, Walter?” asked several voices at once. “See, they are so pretty!”
“Don’t you remember seeing these red stars on the caps of the soldiers who took Papa away?” replied Walter. “They are worn by all the soldiers who come here and they all seem to be bad people who get very angry, and curse and drink. They do not believe in God. No, they mock and curse Him and blaspheme the Name of Jesus Christ!” The children’s faces became sober as they looked at the blazing eyes of their older brother. “If such people as that wear the red stars, we who believe in God and love the Lord Jesus should not wear them!”
“What shall we do then?” asked Annie. “Surely they will make us wear these bad stars!”
“I have a plan,” said Walter. “Let’s tear off the stars, and write on slips of paper: ‘I AM A SHEEP OF JESUS.’ Then we will pin that on instead of the stars. Let them wear the mark of the devil—we will wear the Name of Jesus!”
“Oh, yes!” agreed the others eagerly. Walter pulled out a knife, along with paper and a pencil.
Alexandra began to busily write the new titles, while Annie helped pin them on. In a few minutes the stars had tumbled into the mud at their feet, and the young believers were happily wearing their new emblem.
Of course, it wasn’t long before the Communistic director found out. “What impudent and rebellious children you are!” she said, her eyes blazing with anger as she tore off the paper strips. “Sheep indeed! We’ll hear what nice bleats you’ll make when your punishment is over! You will be given no food until Tuesday and spend the rest of the afternoon in the cellar!”
Down into the dark, cold cellar the children were taken by the socialist nurses. Small sharp stones were scattered over the floor, and for the next several hours they were made to kneel with bare knees on top of them. Soon the awful pain caused moans and cries to escape from their clenched teeth. “Lord Jesus, help! O God, give us strength—it is so hard! We need you!” But no one begged for mercy from the hardened nurses. They knew their only comfort would come from heaven. As little lambs, they cried to their great Shepherd, who heard and saw it all.
As they quivered in pain and weakness, trying bravely to muffle their moans, an unseen Presence knelt among them. Through his pain Walter sensed it, and a quiet strength filled his spirit. “Remember, God’s own Son came to suffer for us,” he said, ignoring his own agony as he tried to encourage the others. “He was crucified—to save us from sin and eternal death—they drove big nails through His hands and feet—and a crown of sharp thorns on His head—like those ones in the back of the orchard. How it must have hurt—when I pricked my hand with one, it hurt for several days!” As he spoke the words, the Savior they loved so dearly seemed very near.
The minutes ticked slowly, painfully by in the dark cellar. But their hearts were comforted as they remembered the story of Christ’s death. Now they realized how much pain He had endured! “But Jesus suffered a hundred times more than we are suffering,” Walter said earnestly. “And He prayed for His tormentors, even after all they did to Him, remember?” Though they were only children, their faith was encouraged. And the God they trusted did not forsake them. He gave them strength to endure bravely until the cruel punishment was over.
After this, the little band of believers had to suffer much for their faith. “Jesus said that we would be hated by all for His name’s sake, but whoever endures to the end will be saved,” Walter often encouraged the others. “And remember also that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before His Father in heaven. Isn’t that a wonderful promise?” he said, his eyes shining with an inner joy. It was that heavenly welcome that they now lived for. “Lord Jesus, you know our suffering—help us to be faithful to You,” they often prayed. “Help us endure to the end!” And their faith and prayers were not in vain.
Afterwards:
Because of the great famine the orphanage was soon closed and the children were scattered to the villages around or sent to live with relatives. What became of the faithful soldiers of Jesus? Only God and the angels know, but here and there we hear stories. Many of the littlest ones suffered until they were called up to that wonderful heavenly home that Jesus had prepared for them. In that place there is no more pain or hunger or darkness anymore. How wonderful to have all their tears wiped away, as they hear the loving words of their Master: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!”
Walter, their faithful leader, was left to serve on longer for the Lord Jesus he loved so well. It was a few years later that a singing kitchen maid told his story.
“Who taught you that beautiful hymn?” asked a visitor, curiously. Under the Communistic government it was rare to hear such music, especially from a young girl. She looked up from the dishes she was washing with a bright smile and replied. “I come from a village many miles from here, and my whole family sings these songs. We pray, too, and bring all our needs to Jesus. Many people call us names and think we are wrong. But it does not matter what others think, because we live to serve Jesus. We believe that He died for us, and so of course we must love Him!”
“You must have a very happy home,” the visitor said.
“Oh, but it wasn’t until Walter came home. You see, he is my crippled brother and Father and Mother sent him off to an orphanage when he was little because he was such a trouble. But he learned about the Lord Jesus there and came to love Him with all his heart. So when the orphanage closed and he was sent back home, he wanted to read to us from the New Testament and teach us songs about the Lord.
At first Mother and Father didn’t like it, and scolded him. We were really quite a quarrelsome family and couldn’t get along. So they refused to listen to what Walter was reading. But dear Walter just prayed more often and earnestly. He continued to read the Bible, and after awhile they would listen now and then. At last Father and Mother believed the gospel of Jesus, and what a change it made! Soon the rest of us children repented and believed in Jesus. We all began to pray and learn the songs together, and now other people gather in our home with us. Sometimes as many as forty or fifty come, and we all hear Walter read the New Testament.”
And so it was that Walter, once the bitter young cripple, lived on to share the conquest of Jesus Christ, as more hearts were won for the kingdom of love.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6)