He Had Africa on His Heart and His Heart is Buried in Africa

 

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.”

 “I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages [in Africa] where no missionary has ever been." Those were twenty words contained in Robert Moffat’s missionary challenge given in Glasgow that captivated and fired David Livingstone’s heart for Africa. He resolved to go to Africa as Missionary based on the power that is available, and the presence that is promised in the Great Commission (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). Having found an answer to the question, “What shall I do with my life?” he traveled to Africa and became a forerunner for Christ in the Dark Continent, searching out the thousand villages, and other thousands, where no missionary had ever been.

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.