Luc Bissainthe: Living Psalm 63

Several hours into the mountains above Peredo, a man stands in a small church building, raising his voice in praise. He is praising a God who he has never seen, but a God whom he has a relationship with and knows through the sermons and teachings of his pastor and through the teachings of Pas RoRo. Since Emmanuel Christian Church in Seguin was started, Luc Bissainthe has faithfully attended and shared what he has learned with those in the community. He teaches the community and those he encounters of the love and life of Jesus Christ. He does this openly, unapologetically, and without shame! 

On one of his recent visits to the church this summer, RoRo listened as Luc Bissainthe sang so personally to Jezi (Jesus)! After the service, while talking with the members of the church, RoRo sought out Luc Bissainthe. During conversation, RoRo learned that several weeks prior, a witch doctor in the village had confronted Luc. The witch doctor told Luc he felt threatened by the way Luc so freely and outwardly praised Jesus. When Luc continued praising and sharing the Gospel, despite the warnings, the witch doctor burnt down Luc Bissainthe’s home and everything in it. 

Luc had two choices: curse God because of his circumstances or praise God because He is faithful. Like David, Luc chose to praise God for His faithfulness. In the Desert of Judah, “a dry, parched land where there is no water”, David praises God! David proclaims God’s love is better than life! Despite the circumstances surrounding David in the wilderness, David thirsts for God! He lifts up his hands in praise and his lips glorify God! Luc, after having every possession taken from him, he gives all he has left to God. He lifts his hands; he worships God with his song, his praise, his actions, his words, his life. 

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. “I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:1-5

The witch doctor got it wrong; when there is nothing left to take from us, if we know and seek after God earnestly, the breath we breathe is enough to reflect His love for us. And even if that is taken from us, we are told we should not fear the only who can only kill the body. For if we have declared God our God, as the saints and angels in Heaven, we will forever glorify Him, singing as Luc, Meci, Senye (Thank You, Lord)! HOLY! HOLY! HOLY!