The Life of Jim Elliot

The Life of Jim Elliot

By 

Abigail Mead

For certain beliefs there are certain consequences.  For Jim Elliot and his team of men, that meant being speared to death by the Quichua (Auca) Indians.  Jim Elliot was a very godly young man. He went to Wheaton Christian College in 1945 and met Elizabeth Howard and courted her. Jim read or heard somewhere that there was a lack of missionary workers in the world and it motivated him to go out and do the work of God. After that, he started pursuing the missionary field. He hitchhiked to Mexico and taught a children’s class there. In Mexico, he realized he wasn’t satisfied with the American life and he wanted to be a missionary overseas.  Jim risked so much, just so the Auca Indians could know what is like to be a follower of Jesus.

        Jim was devoted to his beliefs, even to the point of death.  He was never afraid of the outcome. He didn’t want to just stand there and let the Auca Indians die without them hearing the gospel. It bothered him that there were all these people in America that know about Christ, but don’t do anything. Jim once said “I dare not stay home while Quechuas perish. So what if the well-fed church in the homeland needs stirring? They have the Scriptures, Moses, and the Prophets, and a whole lot more. Their condemnation is written on their bank books and in the dust on their Bible covers.” (Kevin)  If he had never gone to Ecuador, what would the Auca Indians be like now?

     After Jim’s death, Jim’s father went to Ecuador and found the specific Indian that killed his son and told him he forgave him. George, the Indian that killed Jim, is now a Christian.  He apologized for killing Jim and that was because Jim and his team of men spoke life into those Indians.

        All through his days as a missionary, Jim wrote down many prayers.  He prayed, "God, your will be done." He said “God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee.” and “Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be aflame. But flame is often short-lived. Canst thou bear this, my soul? Short life? In me there dwells the spirit of the Great Short-Lived, whose zeal for God’s house consumed Him. ‘Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.” ( Johnson, Carolyn)   Because his beliefs were so important to him, Jim did not try to interfere with God’s plan for him nor did he argue or run away from God. He let God take control of his life.

    
    Jim Elliot had big influence on a lot of people, like his family.
 “Two years later, in what could be considered one of the greatest acts of forgiveness in the 20th century, Elisabeth Elliot, Jim Elliot’s wife and Rachel Saint, Nate Saint’s sister, went to live with the tribe, now known as the Waodani.” ( Rummo, Gregory J.)  Elizabeth raised their daughter in Ecuador.  Because of Jim's beliefs and how strongly he believed in them, he influenced many people to do amazing things.

    Jim Elliot risked his life for his beliefs. There were benefits: the Indians came to know Christ, Jim's father forgave George, and he influenced many people.  Jim Elliot is a perfect example of someone who faced the consequences for their beliefs. He is one of many people who risked their lives for mission work and to influence Christians in some way.