What we can learn from someone we’ve never heard of…
If I mention names like Martin Luther, William Booth, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, George Muller or William Tyndale, chances are you would be somewhat familiar with at least some of them. All these people played what many of us would say is a significant role in the history of the church at various points in the last 2,000 years. However, if I mention the name Alopen, chances are you would not have heard of this person.
What is significant about Alopen? Well, to be honest, we don’t know a lot about him. But we do know that this was the person who brought Christianity to China. Many of us in the Western world think the growth of Christianity in China and Asia in general is a modern phenomenon, but that’s not the case. Alopen arrived in China from Persia in approximately 635AD. Thanks to Alopen, and others like him, the Gospel spread from Antioch in Syria, the western most point of the silk road, across the Asian continent, including countries like Kazakhstan, India and finally China.
As I was reading about this, I was surprised to learn that Christianity was very strong across Asia and Africa well before it spread throughout Europe. In fact, in the 11th century, it is estimated that approximately 1/3 of the Christians in the world lived in Asia. There are also remnants of Christian monasteries that have been excavated in China, dating back to the 600s and 700s AD. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Christianity’s roots in Asia are much older than in much of Europe, and there was a significant presence there at one point.
As I was reading about this, I was wondering, why don’t we know more about this person, who gave up so much and travelled such a long way to see the Gospel spread? And the more I thought about it, the more I realised it didn’t matter. When I say that, I don’t mean that what he did was unimportant. What I mean is that it doesn’t really matter what human recognition he has received. Life is fleeting, man’s recognition is feeble and often flawed. What matters is that Alopen has run his race and received his reward.
As I was reading about him, I felt a strong sense that he was and is celebrated in heaven. Jesus and the angels recognised him. There were many people in heaven who came to him and thanked him for what he did so that they could experience the joy of walking with the Father. The recognition of man didn’t matter to Alopen at all!
Why am I sharing this? Perhaps you are feeling unseen, unheard, unappreciated, and unvalued. Perhaps nobody has seen the sacrifices you have made in your life for God and for other people. Jesus, in Matthew 6, says that ‘your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’ You and I have our heavenly Dad watching over us, cheering us on, and celebrating all that we do for Him, even when we face opposition, hardship, and rejection, or when nobody else sees or recognises us. Know that one day, you will receive a reward that will be so much greater than anything we can imagine! But I also wonder if, when we meet Him face to face, we will be so overcome by the majesty of His greatness and presence, and those things won’t even matter so much anymore?
Secondly, if Alopen had not taken the journey he did, there would be many who would not be in their eternal home right now. You might feel like what you’re doing might not be making a difference, but I believe when you and I reach our eternal home, we will also have others come and say, ‘thank you! Your love made a difference. Your sacrifice made a difference. Your commitment made a difference. Your prayers made a difference.’ There will be people God has used you to impact that you have no idea about this side of heaven.
Finally, I just want to say, especially if nobody else has said it, on behalf of all you’ve touched, thank you! Thank you for all that you do to love on and bless others and to point people to Jesus. I celebrate you right now, and I look forward to celebrating with you one day in our forever home!