God's valiant warrior

'Dr. Livingstone, I presume' is one of the best known quotations in the English language but, for many people, this is all they know of the great man. John Delaney tells us more . . .

Perseverance

This is not yet another eulogy on this intrepid medical missionary, explorer, and national hero of the past. It is, rather, holding forth a life to encourage every buffeted and bewildered follower of Jesus.
It will counter and should challenge the cacophony of contemporary self-absorption teaching, namely, that Scripture is boring compared with revelation knowledge, 'name it and claim it', angelic and demon cosmology, glory now, and Job a failure who lacked positive confession. So was David Living-stone a failure too? Old and shaky; huge sores and tropical ulcers on his feet; suffering from ruptured haemorrhoids; mouth almost toothless; the few remaining teeth well out of line. He described himself as an old fogie! He would hardly rank as an attraction to young people at a Sunday evening service! He died alone in a squalid hut yet a doyen of the medical profession described him later as: 'The great African explorer and missionary of civilisation, a man of whom it is said that no greater, more inspiring, self-sacrificing loveable agent of civilisation ever existed.'

Sufferings

David worked in a slave-driving cotton factory from age ten until he was 23, and studying after work stopped at 10.00pm. Given a free place at Charing Cross Hospital Medical School he was too poor to pay London University examination fees, qualifying in Glasgow in 1840 aged 27 and ordained the same year. After meeting Dr. Robert Moffat, whose daughter Mary he later married, he chose to serve in Africa. What followed is recorded in numerous biographies.
There are heart-rending, heart-provoking, and inspiring any recount appalling hardships. Inadequate provision by missionary societies; abandonment by the British Government; betrayals by natives such as thefts of vital medicines, food and supplies are but some. There were also family problems and his surveying instruments proved to be faulty and unreliable. He was saved literally from the jaws of a lion. The animal crushed his left shoulder and shook him like a rat. He was left with a gaping wound and a crushed left humerus. The wounds became infected and he nearly died. His wife died in 1862 so that the last 11 out of 33 years' service were without her. He never saw angels. He never debated with Jesus but was privileged to participate in his sufferings.

Reality

Secular historians dwelt on Livingstone's feats of exploration like tracing the Zambesi river, finding the Victoria Falls, and seeking the source of the Nile. However, his real priorities were always preaching the gospel and the abolition of slavery. Soundly converted in his teens after hearing of Christ's atonement for sin, there followed a lifelong dependence on prayer and God's Word.
While laid aside in Manyuema he read the Bible through four times. Preachers of easy believism should note that he claimed very few converts. Repentance had to be followed by evidence of changed lives to satisfy his criteria. At times the hand of providence gracefully brought deliverance from perils. When starving he gladly allowed a woman with leprous hands to mix meal for his bread. When facing dismal failures, he said: 'Thy will be done.'

Triumphs

When expected support failed to materialise, African chiefs and natives often showed remarkable generosity. Chiefs gave him bullocks, cows, bearers, food and provisions, to say nothing of safe passage. Native bearers shared his hardships. Since these people frequently murdered and ate one another it is clear that only a loving nature could possibly have inspired such loyalty. When sick, they carried him through near impenetrable terrain and floated him across rivers up their necks. After he died they carried his body for nearly a year over 1,500 miles: a journey so hazardous that many met their own deaths. Livingstone never knew of his greatest triumphs.
By the time the bearers handed his remains to British officials in Zanziba, and had been shabbily treated into the bargain, the determined Stanley had presented the missionary's report in London. This was the deciding factor in the abolition of slavery.

Legacy

Livingstone saw himself, prophetically, as a pioneer or 'watchman of the night' who would enable those in another century to reap what they had not sown. This remarkable warrior fought the good fight of faith. He ran the course. He was found dead in an attitude of prayer. It can be said of him with confidence that his works do follow him. Livingstone had quoted 'other sheep I have who are not of this fold ... them also I must bring.' Peter Scott had a genuine supernatural experience at the missionary's tomb in Westminster Abbey after he read these words. This led to the founding of the Africa Inland Mission (AIM) in 1895. By 1995, AIM had 700 serving missionaries.
Huge crowds have attended evangelical crusades in Africa over the past 30 years. Some meetings, such as those conducted by Billy Graham, have reaped the harvest sown by past missionaries. Others have been the means of deceiving people with a false 'prosperity gospel' and other exaggerations. It is comforting to dwell on those things that are true and to observe the reality of the lives of David Livingstone and others. Many still need to be enlightened. In the final analysis the Day will declare man's deeds of what kind they are!

Dr. John Delany is an adviser to colleges and a visiting preacher. A former university administrator and director in the Department for Education he is an Honorary Fellow of Bath College, a past president of CIMA and governor of Froebel Institute College.

Acknowledgements:

1. Christianity in Crisis: Hank Hanegraaff. Nelson Word 1995.
2. Weighed in the Balance: Bill Randles. St. Matthew Publications 1995.
3. God in the Wasteland: David Wells. Inter Varsity Press 1994.
4. David Livingstone - The truth behind the legend: Rob Mackenzie. Kingsway Publications 1993.
5. Prof. Rudolf Virchow of Berlin. The Times October 1898.
6. Historical Account of Charing Cross Hospital and Medical School: Wm. Hunter MD FRCP. John Murray 1914.
7. Personal Life of David Livingstone: Wm. Blaikie. London. 1880.
8. Livingstone the Liberator: James MacNair. Collins London 1940.
9. We Felt Like Grasshoppers: Dick Anderson. Crossway Books 1994.

Some lessons from the life of David Livingstone