Corrie ten Boom, Her Story (continued)
11. Pietje
PIETJE WAS A hunchback. She was one of my club girls. We liked each other and had a lot of fun. She could neither walk very far nor very fast and I also had difficulty keeping pace with the other girls of my club. I remember we were ona trip one time through Germany, and we had to cross a rather high mountain. Pietje came to me and said, "Auntie, give me your hand and I will help you." We both had to laugh, for she understood that I needed her help and she needed mine, so we stayed a little behind the rest of my healthy club girls and went arm-in-arm up the mountain.
Yes, Pietje was a dear girl. I remember that in the youth hostel where we stayed that evening, we had a talk about the Judgment Day of God. Pietje said, "I'm afraid to come before the Judgment seat. Have we any advocate who will plead for us?"
"Well, just look in the Bible."
Christ ... maketh intercession for us.
Romans 8:34
"That is good!" Pietje said. "Who is our judge?" "Read it yourself."
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ ....
Romans 8:34
Siew
aS? CORRIE TEN BOOM
"What? Jesus Christ is our Judge and our Advocate? Now I am not afraid anymore! He will plead us Not Guilty."
That girl was so happy because she saw what a joy it is that Jesus died for us on the cross and carried our punishment. She knew that one day He will be our Judge and our Advocate. Yes, that was a good talk we had together, there in that youth hostel! | remember there was a lovely view over the mountains and the sun was setting with beautiful colors.
Later, I had to visit Pietje when she was very ill. I found her in the corner of a huge ward in a big hospital. When I saw her, there was nobody with her—no visitors and no nurse—and I talked with her.
"Will you stay with me until I die?" she asked. "Yes," I said, "I'll do that. Are you sure that you will die soon?" "Yes," Pietje smiled. "I'm not at all afraid, for, you know, my Judge is the Advocate and my Advocate is the Judge. I am not afraid at all, because it is Jesus Himself who loves me and I love Him."
Say, do you sometimes fear when you think of the Judgment Day of God, where we all have to appear whether we believe it or not? Read your Bible! Jesus is your Judge and your Advocate. Isn't that good? We have nothing to fear—nothing!
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Romans 8:34