Passion and Rewards: May we all be like Mama Luda

March 25, 2003

Everyone is passionate about something. Get around a new grandparent (my day is coming) and they will show you grandbaby pictures. Right now, passions are building about the trip to the "Final Four" in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Who’s going, who isn’t? And speaking about passion -- have you seen real FANatics at one of these games? You know, the ones covered in body paint, yelling, chanting, and sporting temporary tattoos of the team mascot and more. The more passionate someone is toward their favorite team, the more others say, "Cool!" It is very easy to speak about the things we are passionate about.

What are the passions of your heart right now? Are you passionate about Jesus Christ? If you are, then it is very easy to unashamedly talk about Him to anyone, anytime, any place. If your heart is cold toward Jesus Christ, then you will not talk freely about him.

I fear that many American Christians have lost the passion that comes with a fresh relationship with Christ. Let me tell you about a sister with great passion for Christ. I was introduced to her recently while attending Evangelism Explosion International’s Board meeting. Her name is Mama Luda.

Mama Luda is a Korean lady who has been transplanted into one of the former Soviet Union countries called, Uzbekistan. She is not well educated and she certainly is not rich. But many Uzbekistanis are coming to Christ all around her as she shares her faith with them. In fact, so many have come to Christ that there are now nine evangelical churches in her town and only two mosques. This came to the attention of the local KGBI (the police) in this predominately Muslim country. Mama Luda was arrested and brought in for interrogation.

The chief KGBI officer began the interrogation with a detailed description of her daily life. Mama Luda was shocked at how many details the KGBI had amassed about her life.

"I know much about you and I believe you are doing something good for our country," the KGBI officer said. "I do not know what it is, but your ‘activities’ have brought you to the attention of my superiors, who are Muslim. I want to tell you that my superiors are telling you to ‘Stop talking to Muslims.’"

Mama Luda replied, "I have an even greater boss than yours. He says to me, ‘Mama Luda, tell Uzbekistanis about me!’ So I am." She was then released.

Are you as passionate about Jesus? Do you freely talk about Him? Do you easily talk to lost family and friends about Him? Are you passionately in love with Him?

There is a day coming soon when we will each stand before our Lord Jesus and give an account of our lives. Rewards will be passed out in the form of eternal crowns -- crowns that we will then be able to cast at Jesus’ feet as an eternal offering of love to Him. Scripture tells us about five crowns, among which is the Soul-winner’s crown. Will you be rewarded with one of these? Mama Luda has earned many. I want to be like Mama Luda!