Corrie Ten Boom

BUILT DIFFERENT

Introduction: Good evening Imprint! So glad to see you guys tonight. We are on our third and final lesson of our built different series. This series has been meant to give us examples of special individuals throughout history that God used mightily. And through these regular people, God did amazing things so that we can gather some phenomenal, biblical truths to look up to and apply to our own lives.

Who remembers the first lesson that Pastor Tim gave? Who did he speak on? (King Alfred

Main lesson: Stand firm against the powers of darkness, even when no one else does.

Who remembers last week? Who did Scott teach about? (William Tyndale)

Main Lesson: Value the word of God highly in our lives.

Tonight Rachel and I are going to talk about a woman who Christ used to be a light in the very dark ages of Nazi Germany during WWII.

Pre war: Corrie Ten Boom was born into a devout Christian Dutch family in April of 1892. Her Father, Casper Ten Boom, would read to their family every day from the Bible. “13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand;” Psalm 31:13-15 was often recited in their home.

Corrie grew to love God and His people. After having her own heart broken in her youth her father came to her and said, "Corrie, love is the strongest force in the world and when it is taken away it hurts very deeply. And the important thing to do is to find another channel through which love can travel." As she thought about what her father said, she prayed, "Lord Jesus, I belong to You lock, stock, and barrel. I surrender this part of my being that is wounded." Corrie found paths for her love to travel through. She began a ministry to the mentally handicapped in Amsterdam, her family took in many missionary children so they could be educated in a safe environment, and continued to care for her aging parents and elderly aunts alongside her sister, Betsie.

The Ten Boom life changed on the 10th of May, 1940. The Nazi’s occupied the Netherlands and began enforcing their strict protocols on the Dutch. This, as we know, was hardest and most targeted at the Jewish people. While many turned a blind eye to what was happening to their jewish neighbors, the Ten Boom family took action. Corrie’s brother and nephew were the first to get involved with the resistance and to share the horrors with their family. Casper Ten Boom, Corrie's father, stated boldly that everyone was welcome to find refuge in their home, and so work began to build a hiding place in their home.

It was Corries room that was chosen to contain a narrow hiding place within the wall. As Jews showed up seeking refuge, they would also receive bible studies and drills on how to efficiently hide in the event of a raid. After many drills and practice raids the time came for the real thing. A man came to the Ten Boom's house asking for help from the family. He knew they were sympathizers and preyed on their kindness. This man, Jon Vogel, was a traitor.

The Nazi’s raided their house, but with no success at finding those taking shelter in their care. However, they arrested Corrie, Betsie, and Casper who was then 84 years old. And it was there that Betsie and Corrie saw their father for the last time. They were lined up with their noses to the wall and Father ten Boom quoted Psalms 91:1 – "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the almighty."

Casper died ten days after his imprisonment, separated from his family and buried in an unmarked grave. As they Interrogated Corrie, she began to explain the Gospel to the German soldier. Through the hours, that man's heart began to soften towards Corrie and the Gospel itself. He chose to show her the exact papers that incriminated her in the crime. This would surely lead to a death sentence for her and her entire family. In that moment Corrie felt the weight of all the sorrow her body could muster. The officer then turned towards the furnace and threw the paper in. As she would later share, she felt the most joy she could have experienced only moments following her immense sorrow. Colossians 2:13-14 came to her mind, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses…” but, “God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Those papers that condemned her, like our sins condemn us, were discarded.

Fleas: After Corrie and Betsie were brought to a prison, she encountered a German nurse who was kind, and gave her a tiny pocket bible. Corrie would hang onto this with her life. She would pull it out and lead bible studies with her fellow inmates as much as physically possible.

Until one day, the Nazis decided to move her and her sister to a different sort of prison… This time, a concentration camp called Ravensbruk.

As the sisters were in line to be searched, Corrie knew that the Pocket bible she had would be confiscated. This bible was her only belonging. And to her, it was everything. So in the desperate moment, Corrie prayed to the Lord and said: “God, you have made the blind see, I pray that in this moment, you make the seeing blind to what I have in my possession.”

And by divine providence, the Nazi guard that searched her was momentarily distracted when he was about to search Corrie, and she got to walk right through. The Lord hears,

and the Lord cares. Corrie had complete faith that God would come through, and He did.

The sisters were shoved into a cabin-like structure that was capable of holding 200 starving Jews. By the time the sisters got thrown in there, there were 700 people, with sicknesses and diseases rampant inside.

You guys know a lot of the horrors of the nazi camps, so I don’t need to go in crazy detail, but they were abused, mistreated, underfed and dying off, or being killed off like crazy.

They were there many months when Corrie had been overwhelmed with everything, and she began crying and complaining about these stupid fleas that infested her “living” space.

You know when you're on the verge of a breakdown, and then there's that one thing that

Pushes you over the edge? That's what this was for Corrie. She could not handle it all, and The fleas were just horrid.

But do you want to know what her sister Betsie, who was as weak as could be, said to Corrie?

She said along the lines of: “Corrie, The word tells us that we need to be thankful in all situations. You can thank God for the fleas.”

Thank God for the FLEAS? Yeah, no way Betsie, are you kidding? Idk about you guys, but to me that seems ridiculous. I know the book of Philippians talks about thankfulness a bunch, but this situation has to be a pass right?

Corrie, I can imagine dumbfounded by this comment, prayed to the Lord and was thankful for her situation, even though it seemed like it could not get worse. And do you want to know what happened?

The guards, when it came time to search the living quarters, decided at the last minute that it was not worth searching them, because of the fact that they did not want to catch the fleas.

Meaning, that Corrie got to continue sharing the hope we find in Christ, through the word of the Lord to 700 people many times a day, who had absolutely nothing. Betsie ended up dying due to malnutrition and beatings just a handful of days before Corrie got let go from the camp.

Post War: After being released, Corrie knew she had to make known what had happened. Her heart for others and love of those who were vulnerable drove her to complete her sister's vision and establish a home to rehabilitate those who had sided with the Germans. Who else would have done this? It was actually Betsie who told Corrie while they where at the camp, “Who will care for them? Who will show them Christ?”. Betsie, who was being beaten ruthlessly at the hands of these men and women to the point of death, had sympathy for them! She understood Romans 5:10 “ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”. Who are we, as enemies of God who have been forgiven, to withhold forgiveness from our enemies? Corrie would carry that mindset with her through her travels as she shared God's light triumphing over the deepest darkness.

Many years after WWII, Corrie was prompted to write books, create a movie, and have many speaking engagements about her experience with the Nazi’s. What she spoke about was first, the gospel. Christ’s death on the cross for the whole world, and second, forgiveness. She taught the importance of forgiveness towards Germany and the Nazi’s and how that is so important.

One of her speaking engagements brought her to Germany, where, at the end of the night, a man approached her. She recognized his face, but it wasn't until he spoke that she knew where from. The man said, “Mrs. Ten Boom, I was a guard at Ravensbruck and I caused unimaginable suffering to you and your sister. After the war an amazing thing happened, Christ found me! Ma’am, I am so sorry for the wrongs I have committed against you, will you forgive me?” Corrie Ten Boom had dedicated her life to sharing the immeasurable love of Christ and how the length to which his forgiveness unmatched. This, she would later say, was one of the hardest tests of her faith. In that moment, when the man stretched out his hand, her heart hardened. She saw in her mind's eye all the times this man beat her beloved sister. However, she knew more than most, that Christ offers forgiveness to all, and her sister would have too. And in the same breath she prayed, “God, help me! Take away my hatred” And He did.

She took the man's hand and said, “Brother, you are forgiven”.

Corrie would have another moment where the forgiveness of God poured from her rather than her own. Jon Vogel, the man that betrayed her family, was sentenced to death following the war for his treason. When she heard about this she set off to write him a letter that said “Your betrayal has meant the death of my old father, who was 84 years old when they brought him into prison. After 10 days he died. My sister, who died after 10 months of terrible suffering. My brother, he came out alive but a sick man and died through that sickness and his son never came back. I myself have suffered terribly in 3 different prisons but I have forgiven you. That is because Jesus is in my heart. She sent that man The New Testament and underlined the way of Salvation. And that Jon Vogel replied and said , "that you could forgive me is such a great miracle that I have said, 'Jesus, when you give such a love in the heart of your followers there is hope for me.'"

Forgiveness is the act of letting go, releasing your animosity and vengeance towards someone who has wronged you.

Romans 5:5 says: “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Corrie knew she had no love in her heart for these men that wronged her. But Corrie Ten Boom knew that God, who is the one who we sin against every day, has given those who know Him the ability to forgive as He forgave, through the Holy Spirit.

Guys, listen to me here. If you are in this room and you have not accepted Christ into your life as your savior, the forgiver of your sins, you need to seriously consider that tonight. This is the most important decision that you will ever make in your entire life. Ask any christian in the room, they would say that is the truth for them too. Come talk to me or any of your leaders tonight about this. Or text us and ask about it. That is what we are here for.

This Story is not about how amazing Corrie Ten Boom is. She simply understood what is true and available to everyone who has trusted in Jesus Christ, we have access to every good thing ONLY THROUGH CHRIST. Corrie without Christ would not have taken that man's hand, rejoiced for the fleas, survived her interrogation, or stood up for the powerless. Christ accomplished this. And through Christ, walking with the Spirit, and trusting the Father, we can become like Jesus as Corrie did.

So, how do we apply Corrie’s life to our lives?

Forgive others as Christ has forgiven you. Like Corrie and the traitor, Jon Vogel, One of the biggest ways other people can see that Christ has changed our lives is through our forgiveness. Christ forgave us first. We can always forgive.

Thankfulness in all situations. Guys, if Corrie and Betsie can see that they were blessed, what excuse do you have to complain or be bitter? Every good thing comes from God, and God always gives good things to His children, even if it doesn't feel like it right away.

It’s easy to think, “Oh, I would totally be like the Ten Booms in Nazi times. I would house the Jews and help the persecuted.” But, and I'm talking to the Christians in the room, if you don’t stand up against abortion, or many of the other situations, even regarding the Jewish people today, you wouldn't be that person to help the persecuted. We need to boldly stand against the darkness of the world and be a light with the Gospel of Christ.

Forgive. Be thankful. Stand against darkness.