Traveling throughout India one has the opportunity to
traverse a lot of different streets in search of souls longing to hear the
gospel. The city of Kathipudi is no different than any other town in India, or
in any part of the world for that matter. It just so happens that on this
particular occasion we conducted a night meeting in this city on this Lord's
Day. Kathipudi lies on the National Highway that runs from Vishakhapatnam to
Gunter, and a smaller road connects this town of about 100,000 to Kakinada. Over
the years I have had the opportunity to preach in Kathipudi on a number of
occasions, and have passed through this town on the way to other destinations
during the ten years I have been doing mission work in India. Kathipudi is a
typical town, with typical people. There is nothing special about the streets of
this city other than the fact that we happened to be at this place, at this
particular time, meeting with the saints and preaching to both saved and lost
souls. We entered this city from the south, crossed under the National Highway,
started up the access road, and made a turn on a side road that would classify
as a back alley in Fort Worth, Texas. The road was narrow, unpaved, and with the
rain that day, this small dusty road had now become a narrow muddy road.
Buildings lined either side of the street; small concrete houses where families
lived and children played. The street was so narrow that two cars could not pass
one another, and even Nehemiah's Toyota and a bicycle would literally take up
the entire space between the houses on either side of the road. After making a
dogleg to the right and back to the left, the narrow street eventually came to
an end. On our right was a house where Shiro Rajyam, the local preacher for the
Lord’s church, lived; on the left was the meeting place for this particular
occasion. It consisted of a concrete floor, several pillars that would
eventually be connected by walls an! d a roof overhead to protect the
inhabitants from the rain and a hot summer sun; but for now the structure was in
the early stages and we actually gathered under an open sky that was cloudy and
threating rain. I preached on Romans 12:1-2, encouraged the brethren, and
extended the invitation to the lost. Eleven precious souls responded, bringing
the total number of baptisms for this mission trip to 40. After visiting with
the brethren and meeting several of the preachers from the villages around
Kathipudi, we departed, waving goodbye to the precious saints who had lingered
to shake our hands and capture one last glimpse of this pale, white skinned
preacher, who spoke a different language. We slowly made our way back up the
narrow, muddy road to the National Highway, arriving in Kakinada around 10:30
PM.
Jesus often told parables using objects and incidents from every day life. He was the Master Teacher, and on one occasion He used the illustration of a road to describe what happens when the seed is planed in an unfruitful place (cf. Matt. 13:18-23). He also used a road to illustrate the magnitude of lost souls: "Wide is gate, and broad is the way [road, T.W.] that leads to destruction" (Matt. 7: 13-14). The word "street" and/or "streets" appears more than 95 times in the Bible, sometimes referring to a literal street (as in the case of Saul of Tarsus and his stay on a street called Straight); sometimes figuratively. Our English word first appears in Genesis 19:2 where it speaks of two angels who went to the city of Sodom and the house of Lot. Rahab the harlot was warned not to go out of her house into the "street" when Israel invaded Jericho lest she or someone in her family be destroyed. We could go on, but I think this is sufficient to show that the Bible’! s us e of the word "street" or "streets" is both interesting, and can be inspirational. As Nehemiah and I were leaving Kathipudi, it dawned upon me that there are a lot of lessons we might glean from this simple occasion of traveling the streets of Kathipudi.
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that men are lost. "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Our numerous road trips here in India take us through dozens of towns and cities. Without exception, the streets are always crowded with teeming thousands who are shopping in the markets, or socializing on some corner. Gathered at a nearby Hindu temple are the worshippers of a false god; which is no god at all. Bankers, merchants, teachers, and even beggars all walk the streets of Kathipudi; and every single one of them who has not named the name of Christ is lost!
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that "Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places; She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words" (Pro. 1:20-21). At the end of that narrow muddy road that evening an effort was underway to let wisdom cry aloud in the streets of Kathipudi. I have had a few occasions here in India to literally preach on the streets of some city or village. Brethren bring their blankets, chairs, or some other item on which to sit. They cordon off a section of some narrow street, set up a microphone and amplifier, and we preach. On those, and numerous other occasions, wisdom has cried aloud in the streets; and Lord willing, she will continue to cry aloud until our Lord comes again.
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that the things of life are only temporal. Nowhere is the decay of earthly things more apparent than on the streets of Kathipudi. Almost all we see about us is in disarray, the ravages of time and use showing wear and tear on everything visible. Paul reminded us that the "things that are seen are temporal" (2 Cor. 4:18). They are only temporary; they do not last. Why, then, do men scrimp and save to acquire "stuff" when without fail, that same "stuff" will eventually be gone?
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that we have work to do as servants in the Master’s kingdom. Nehemiah and I did not travel to Kathipudi to attend a concert, watch a movie, or purchase property. It is easy to get caught up in the affairs of this life and forget the real purpose for which we have been called by the Gospel. You and I must never lose sight of our real purpose upon this planet. This is a time of preparation for that moment when all of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of what we have done in this body (2 Cor. 5:10). Unfortunately the vast majority of those who walked the streets of Kathipudi that night have no knowledge of the God of heaven, or that moment that awaits all of us when we shall give an account to the Almighty.
Finally, the streets of Kathipudi remind me there is something better that awaits me. There are many inconveniences when traveling abroad. Whether it be India, Russia, Nepal, or a half dozen other countries to which I have had the privilege to travel, the standard of living is not what it is back home. From a purely physical standpoint I could say without any doubt whatsoever that something better awaits me when I finish my work here. But the inconveniences here are only a reminder that, when compared with any place upon this earth, nothing - absolutely nothing - will compare with the joys that await the child of God upon his entrance into that eternal home. When this life is over, and we are granted entrance into that heavenly home by the grace of our God, we will then walk the street of gold, breath celestial air, and feed upon the tree of life. No longer will the saints who live in this small town have to walk the streets of Kathipudi.
Jesus often told parables using objects and incidents from every day life. He was the Master Teacher, and on one occasion He used the illustration of a road to describe what happens when the seed is planed in an unfruitful place (cf. Matt. 13:18-23). He also used a road to illustrate the magnitude of lost souls: "Wide is gate, and broad is the way [road, T.W.] that leads to destruction" (Matt. 7: 13-14). The word "street" and/or "streets" appears more than 95 times in the Bible, sometimes referring to a literal street (as in the case of Saul of Tarsus and his stay on a street called Straight); sometimes figuratively. Our English word first appears in Genesis 19:2 where it speaks of two angels who went to the city of Sodom and the house of Lot. Rahab the harlot was warned not to go out of her house into the "street" when Israel invaded Jericho lest she or someone in her family be destroyed. We could go on, but I think this is sufficient to show that the Bible’! s us e of the word "street" or "streets" is both interesting, and can be inspirational. As Nehemiah and I were leaving Kathipudi, it dawned upon me that there are a lot of lessons we might glean from this simple occasion of traveling the streets of Kathipudi.
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that men are lost. "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Our numerous road trips here in India take us through dozens of towns and cities. Without exception, the streets are always crowded with teeming thousands who are shopping in the markets, or socializing on some corner. Gathered at a nearby Hindu temple are the worshippers of a false god; which is no god at all. Bankers, merchants, teachers, and even beggars all walk the streets of Kathipudi; and every single one of them who has not named the name of Christ is lost!
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that "Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places; She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words" (Pro. 1:20-21). At the end of that narrow muddy road that evening an effort was underway to let wisdom cry aloud in the streets of Kathipudi. I have had a few occasions here in India to literally preach on the streets of some city or village. Brethren bring their blankets, chairs, or some other item on which to sit. They cordon off a section of some narrow street, set up a microphone and amplifier, and we preach. On those, and numerous other occasions, wisdom has cried aloud in the streets; and Lord willing, she will continue to cry aloud until our Lord comes again.
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that the things of life are only temporal. Nowhere is the decay of earthly things more apparent than on the streets of Kathipudi. Almost all we see about us is in disarray, the ravages of time and use showing wear and tear on everything visible. Paul reminded us that the "things that are seen are temporal" (2 Cor. 4:18). They are only temporary; they do not last. Why, then, do men scrimp and save to acquire "stuff" when without fail, that same "stuff" will eventually be gone?
The streets of Kathipudi remind us that we have work to do as servants in the Master’s kingdom. Nehemiah and I did not travel to Kathipudi to attend a concert, watch a movie, or purchase property. It is easy to get caught up in the affairs of this life and forget the real purpose for which we have been called by the Gospel. You and I must never lose sight of our real purpose upon this planet. This is a time of preparation for that moment when all of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of what we have done in this body (2 Cor. 5:10). Unfortunately the vast majority of those who walked the streets of Kathipudi that night have no knowledge of the God of heaven, or that moment that awaits all of us when we shall give an account to the Almighty.
Finally, the streets of Kathipudi remind me there is something better that awaits me. There are many inconveniences when traveling abroad. Whether it be India, Russia, Nepal, or a half dozen other countries to which I have had the privilege to travel, the standard of living is not what it is back home. From a purely physical standpoint I could say without any doubt whatsoever that something better awaits me when I finish my work here. But the inconveniences here are only a reminder that, when compared with any place upon this earth, nothing - absolutely nothing - will compare with the joys that await the child of God upon his entrance into that eternal home. When this life is over, and we are granted entrance into that heavenly home by the grace of our God, we will then walk the street of gold, breath celestial air, and feed upon the tree of life. No longer will the saints who live in this small town have to walk the streets of Kathipudi.
by
Tom Wacaster
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