This account deals with a typical encounter I have had with the
living God in addressing a financial situation pertaining to accommodation and sustenance,
whilst living in Sea Point, Cape Town ,
during the mid-1990s.
Prior to moving to Sea Point, I had been renting a room (on
a weekly basis) at The Lennox, then still a reasonably appointed residential
establishment in Gardens, Cape Town . I was asked to vacate it at months end as it
had been pre-booked by cyclists partaking in the annual Cape Argus Pick n Pay
Cycle Race.
As still is the case today, I had been walking out my
preordained destiny in Jesus, going to where He was leading, resolving
everything in Him, step by step, as I went along.[1]
However, as is perhaps still the case, I was reluctant to
commit myself to long-term fixed accommodation, especially to a protracted
lease agreement. I was totally reliant
on God for all my accommodation, food, and clothes, which He had faithfully
provided[2], albeit
always at the very last minute. Living
like this is exhilarating but can also be nerve-wracking, as one has to wait to
see how and when He chooses to provide. Moreover,
there always is the possibility that He might choose, for very valid reasons of
His own, not to provide.[3] Safeguarding me against such an embarrassing financial
eventuality always seems to cause me to irrationally want to hedge my bets. Such reasoning, ultimately is, of course,
fallacious and perhaps still, to some extent, needs to be worked out of me in
my walk with him.[4] (Unfortunately the lost, but especially
believers, often scrutinizes one’s every move/step, to watch to see if one
comes undone. If this happens, it
seemingly will validate their own theories or interpretation of Scripture, as
apposed to what one is practically walking/working out in Him.)
Whilst seeking God’s face for alternative accommodation, a
sister-in-the-Lord one day took me to a residential hotel located in Kei Apple
road, Sea Point (not far from where she herself lived), then known as The King
David Hotel (previously also known, I was recently told by someone who knew the
area well, as The Queens Hotel).
By God’s grace, I was able to book a room for R700.00 per
month (obviously at a more beneficial rate than on a daily, weekly or bi-weekly
basis) providing some form of stability, albeit only briefly.[5]
Having recently returned to Cape Town ,[6]
I looked up the location of the hotel to determine if it still exists. Where it once stood is now a new development,
know as Planet Africa (However, in case you are interested, it used
to be situated within a few minutes’ walking distance from the Checkers
Supermarket, located at the corner of Regent
street and St Andrews
road.)
 |
| Planet Africa (ex-King David Hotel Sea Point, South Africa) |
 |
| View from King David Hotel (to local Checkers supermarket) |
 |
| Google aerial view of above images |
Although the hotel offered pre-paid restaurant meals to residents
wanting to use such facilities, I chose not to, instead daily visiting the local
supermarket for my daily sustenance.
Also staying at the hotel at the time was Dino, a
brother-in-the-Lord (of Italian extraction).
By occupation he was a chef who had worked in a guesthouse in the Eastern Transvaal .
After a serious car accident, he moved to Cape Town, hoping to utilise
the compensation received (from a personal injury insurance settlement), to set
up a coffee shop or similar establishment, perhaps even providing light meals for
potential customers.
Having previously been in business for my own account, I assisted
him in working through his limited options, mostly trying to prevent him from
squandering his cash and by him avoiding costly, irreversible financial mistakes,
such as locating it in the wrong area, entering into unfavourable lease
arrangements, superfluous or costly expenditure on the wrong items, etc.[7] He almost daily came to see me to assist him in
exploring his options and we got to know each other reasonably well as a result.
Despite my own arrangement, I knew that, at some point, in the
near future, I was going to run out of cash, a prospect too frightening to
contemplate for most people. At least I
had the temporary “security” of a pre-paid room for a month in advance,
providing me with some breathing space—but it was not going to last long, and
so, as this day approached, with a little more than R 700.00 to cover my
existence, I began seeking God’s face for solutions.
Whilst in prayer one day, He suddenly responded by saying, “Pay them half.” “I cannot do so Lord,” I protested, “there
will be a rate amendment (as if He was oblivious to it).” My mindless riposte remained unanswered. In obedience, I eventually went to the receptionist
on duty, saying, “I do not know for how long I will be staying with you. Can I pay you R350.00 in the meantime?” “I am not sure,” she said. “When I see the manager again I will ask him
and get back to you.” I nonetheless insisted
paying her the R350.00 (as He had instructed), which she accepted, and for
which I received a receipt.
When over the next few days no one responded to my request,
I approached the manager concerning my situation. He informed me that the hotel was owned by a
Jewish landlord. The premises had been leased
to a Swiss citizen, living in Constantia, operating it as a hotel. The lease expired at the end of that month
but the landlord decided not to renew it.
Instead, he planned auctioning the property. His intentions totally surprised the lessee,
potentially leaving him without his primary source of income. His staff likewise faced a dilemma, not sure
what was going to unfold, with them all ultimately risking loosing the “security”
of their jobs. “As far as I am
concerned,” he said, “you can stay on for as long as you like, at no extra cost,
until we all have to leave.”
The news quickly spread, especially to the residential tenants,
some having lived there for years.
Everyone was forced to hastily try and secure alternative accommodation.
With the upcoming Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycling event, this
proved to be almost impossible, as the cyclists have also pre-booked virtually all
available residential accommodation in the area. People were bewildered, left in an extremely vulnerable
situation. Some even approached a local
radio station to air their discontent, frustration and anger—but all to no
avail.
Dino joined the mad rush to find new accommodation and would
check in with me daily, informing me about the prospects he had unearthed. He was totally oblivious of my circumstances,
but made it clear he was trying to find a place “for us both” to stay. I assume he presumed I could or would pay half
the rent. Given what I had already
shared above, I could not commit myself to such an arrangement, but he forged
ahead nonetheless, on behalf of us both.
Having become accustomed to seeking God’s Face on everything
in life, I once again turned to Him for resolution.[8] “Lord, what must I do?” I kept on asking—anticipating a response.
Everyone was doing everything possible to find a place to
stay. I did not. Instead, I awaited God’s response in the
solitude of my room.
Then one day, during all this uncertainty, a hotel staff
member knocked on my door, “There’s a phone call for you,” she said, informing
me to take it (on what seemed to be a communal line) near the staircase on my
floor. On the phone was an unredeemed, retired
coloured[9]
schoolteacher whom I had met whilst living in Jerusalem .
(She was on holiday there at the time.)
Having witnessed to her in Israel ,
I gave her the telephone number of a believer in Johannesburg to contact, when visiting her
daughter (who lived and worked there), should she feel inclined to do so.
Before I returned from Israel, she somehow obtained my
mother’s phone number from someone and tried to reach me at her retirement home
in Vanderbijlpark, leaving a message for me to contact her upon my return (if I
ever did). When I arrived back in South Africa I tried to contact her at the
number provided, but learnt she had left, this time for Zambia . That was the last time I thought I would ever
hear from her, but here she now was on the line, this time having heard from
another South African (who had also visited Israel
at the same time) that I was now living in Cape Town , the city where they both resided.
She suggested we meet for tea at an outdoor restaurant
located at the botanical gardens, off the city centre, which we did, soon
thereafter. It was a casual meeting
without any agenda or set purpose. She was
inquisitive about my plans. I said I was
between things (not knowing what God had in mind), but that I would soon (given
the aforesaid) move, although not sure where to yet. We parted company and again I truly thought I
would never see or hear from her again.
Edna and I had nothing in common. Our backgrounds differed radically and so did
our outlook on life, interests and activities.
Nevertheless, a few days later, she phoned again—this time suggesting
that I come and stay with her. She even suggested
Dino do likewise. I took this as coming
from the Lord (Dino had a different view), and soon moved to Grassy Park
The flatlet, adjoining her home, consisted of two bedrooms (the
one abutting the other), a bathroom and kitchen. It was freely available to me, for as long as
I wanted to stay there. Although
relatively far away from everything, it was secluded, well appointed and
comfortable.[10] Whilst Edna was going about her daily business,
most days going off somewhere, I predominantly spent my time in Scripture and simply
being with Him.
One day as I sat at the desk in the spare bedroom, studying (the
Person of) the Holy Spirit, as revealed in Scripture (particularly in Acts 4),
I suddenly heard Him say, “Go look at
your passport.”
I got up from my chair and retrieved my passport from my
suitcase. As I opened it, I noticed that
it was expiring during that particular week.
When Dino came to visit, and learnt what God had told me, he insisted
that we immediately drive to Home Affairs (located) in Wynberg (if my memory
serves me correctly) to have it renewed, and so we did.
Not long thereafter God moved me thousands of miles away—his
time to Zambia ,
for which I needed a renewed passport!
I could have solved all of the aforesaid intellectually, by
using my God-given mental faculty—and that, I can assure you, is what most
Christians would have urged/advised me
to do based on their understanding of God’s word, leaving only that for which
they had no answers to Him.
I deliberately chose not to do so.
Among others, Scripture in Proverbs declares, “Trust in the
Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”[11]
How true this proved to be the case in the aforementioned
incident.
I was not (and no longer am) part of the maelstrom of
everyday events in a godless world, primarily obsessed with and serving itself.[12] I was (and still am) serving Him, walking out
my destiny in Him[13],
as best I know how, with Him directing my paths superlatively in the midst of
untold greed, strive and turmoil—as the aforementioned incident attests.
The manner in which He so graciously dealt with me may not
be the way you would have handled it. So
let me ask you this: How would you have resolved my situation and how are you practically
resolving the daily issues of your life?
Do you perhaps still act as if you are wiser than Him,
resolving issues, (hopefully/presumably) to your advantage, as you see fit—or do
you truly submit to Him, viewing Him as the source of all life, serving His
purposes, on His terms?
In my experience, it is best to line up with the revelation
of Him; to die completely to self and to find life in Him alone[14] on His terms;
as He directs,[15] serving
and loving “ the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your mind, and with all your strength.”[16]
We can delude ourselves, but He cannot be fooled. He knows who His servants truly are, and
those pretending to be (or even those wanting to do “something” for Him), and
He deals with them both accordingly.
The daily reality of it will be revealed in whether one clearly
encounters the living God (or not) as we grapple (or not) with the issues of
life flowing out of His Being.
This is not an optional process and the consequences,
whether one realises/appreciate it or not, are eternal.
Peter wrote, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of
Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called
us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.”[17]
May He bless you abundantly in encountering Him as you
diligently seek His word and Face with all your might for a clearer
understanding of Him and His ways.
Blessed be His Name forevermore!
[1]
In 1 Corinthians 16.6-8 we see
glimpses of the same processes in Paul’s life (even though his calling was already broadly defined as can be clearly seen in
passages, such as, for example, Acts 9 and 22).
[2]
See Matthew 6.24-34
[3]
Proverbs 9.11-12 says, “My
son, do not despise the chastening of
the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord
loves He corrects, just as a father the son [in whom] he delights.”
[4]
I am doing far better with the
fear (or anxiousness) of Him not
providing. This was something I needed
to overcome. God sometimes allow us to
come horribly undone—but allows this always for our own benefit and it usually
occurs when He needs to deal with something we need to come to terms with
doctrinally, relating to misconceptions, etc He wants corrected. In this respect, Paul says, in 1 Cor 15.31, “I die daily,” i.e. there are aspects
of our lives that still need to die, in subjugation, to His Lordship. In working out our destiny, we are placed in
hardship, sometimes totally beyond our control to learn to no longer trust in
self, but totally in God, as 2 Cor 1.8-11, for example, teaches.
[5]
In today’s terms this is
equivalent of roughly R 8,662.82, assuming a growth rate of 15% over that
period or $971.17 pm (converted at
R8.92/$1.00 in September 2012)
[7] Thus functioning in the
gift of helps, as found in 1 Cor 12.28: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And
God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of
tongues.”
(My emphasis)
[8]
“Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus,” (Phil 2.6-7) with “…in
Him we live and move and have our being …” (Ac 17.28)
[9]
I do not like to refer to people by their race, as it is irrelevant, but this
places it in the South African context of the time.
[10] Staying here, you may
want to know where I got cash from to sustain myself. I honestly cannot even remember. I have long ago taken another text to mind
and ceased wondering where my next meal was going to come from, “If then you
were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on
things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God.” (Col
[11]The New
King James Version . 1996, c1982 (electronic ed.) (Pr 3:5). Nashville : Thomas Nelson.
[12] “We know that we are of
God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one,” (1 Jn 5.19)
with “And you [He made alive,] who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2
in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according
to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit who now works in
the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the
others,” (Ep 2.2-3) with “Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And
the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of
God abides forever.” (1 Jn 2.15-17)
[13]
“For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ep 2.10)
[14]
“…if One died for all, then
all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should
live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Co 5.14-15)
[15] “And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Ro 8.28, NIV)
[16]The New
King James Version . 1996, c1982 (electronic ed.) (Mk 12:30). Nashville : Thomas Nelson.
[17]The New
King James Version . 1996, c1982 (electronic ed.) (2 Pe 1:2). Nashville : Thomas Nelson.
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