IS IT CONSEQUENCES OF SIN?
The "house arrest" continued at Thiruvadavur into days and months. They were like slaves under torture; Shame on one side.....but on the other side longing for Christian fellowship, singing of His glory, praying with others and going to the villages to preach gospel. They wondered if those days will ever come. It has been months since they read bible; just like bible said, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after you, O God" (Psalms 42: 1), their hearts were longing for God. At that time Fathima, Mytheen and Shahjahan came home for holidays as college was closed due to student unrest. All brothers slept in one room and prayed silently for God's help. When dad was not around they dialogued with each other. Saleem and Ayub used to play outside and give signal, if they see dad coming at a distance; immediately they ceased discussion and went back to their respective rooms.
Omar felt that may be due to past sins they are suffering like this. The bible predicted..you reap what you sow.... however Jesus Christ forgave our sins...so how can it be? One day he wrote about this to Margaret and June who replied in a letter which he received secretly through his friends assuring that Jesus had forgiven all their sins....thrown at the bottom of the sea and behind His back; persecution was not because of their past sins. Bible announces, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12: 11). Though it was encouraging; they also wondered whether they would be killed according to this verse. So they spent few nights without sleep in fear of being killed.