DAVID LIVINGSTONE*
By Sam Kirui
In December 1997 on a brief stop-over in London from
United States to Kenya, I visited the Westminster Abbey. Inside this beautiful
cathedral, is the grave of David Livingstone—a Scottish missionary and explorer
to Africa. There I was, standing on his gravestone. Beneath lay a man who is
considered the Pathfinder of Africa, a true giant of the Missionary Trail to
the heart of Africa. I am a living proof of his faithful witness. “Thank you
Jesus that Mr. Livingstone was obedient to the higher calling so I, a man from
East Africa, would know you as Lord and Savior.”
David Livingstone’s eventful career was the story of
many long, exciting, winding trails. He became a shining light among the
Africans, and was a great listener and learner as he interacted with them.
Oftentimes he stood and told the story of the greatest Hero of all ages, the
story of Jesus coming from heaven to earth to die on the Cross.
Mr. Livingstone suffered a lot as a missionary but
he never gave up. It is recorded that “he traveled 29,000 miles in Africa,
discovered Victoria Falls and four important lakes besides several rivers, and
added to the known portion of the world about a million square miles of
territory.” Yet these accomplishments in themselves were only secondary in his
estimation. His all-encompassing objective was to win souls for the kingdom in
Africa. Additionally, he paved the way for more missionary work there.
"Good and gracious Jesus," David
Livingstone (DL) prayed, "Thou art ever near. Thou knowest my yearnings
after these [African] people. Thou art my comfort and my keeper. Stay with me,
Lord, till my work is done." This prayer was answered. DL accomplished
the mission that the Lord had put on his heart. Africa was opened up for the
gospel so that she would be blessed and become a blessing to the world.
When DL died, his heart was buried beneath a
mvula-tree, upon which Wainwright curved the words, "Dr. Livingstone died
on May 4, 1873." The body was embalmed and sent by sea to its final
resting place in England. This man had Africa on his heart, and Africa should
not forget him. We praise the Lord for what he did through David Livingstone in
Africa and through other missionaries in other continents. I attribute a lot of
the spiritual victories we’ve had in Africa to this great missionary. Yes, he
taught people there about the value of irrigation and so forth but his greatest
passion was to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, for it always
warmed his heart and he saw it as the great means which God employs for the
regeneration of our ruined world.
Today, there is evidence of his faithful witness. In
1929 a revival broke out from the little East African country of Rwanda and
spread to Uganda and Kenya. Its effects have been more lasting than almost any
other revival in history, so that today there is hardly a single Protestant
leader in East Africa who has not been touched by it in some way. My Aunt and
Uncle who served in an Anglican Church in Kenya in the late sixties were
informed and influenced by this revival. Also, the Christian population in
sub-Saharan Africa of between 70 and 90 percent is another proof of his great
work as a missionary and explorer.
From DL’s life we draw these five lessons: ONE, we need to seek God’s will
for our lives and be willing to go wherever He sends us. TWO, w should let the
Lord change our hearts so they are open to the world around us; THREE, we must
be faithful to whatever God calls us to do by clinging to His eternal promises;
FOUR, we ought to be men and women of prayer—DL was found dead while kneeling
in prayer; and FIVE, we should keep up the good work of missions so that people
of all nations may find the Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
David Livingstone served the Lord wholeheartedly in Africa. Where is your heart today? n
*I shared this article for
the first time in a newsletter to the Heritage family on February 23,
2006! I was encouraged to post it today
after reading an
article written by Ed & Donna Edwards.
