Otto Funke (1836-1910) grew up in a Christian home in Germany, and at his mother’s urging began to study theology in Halle. But it was in Tübingen that he experienced his life-defining encounter with Jesus. Professor Johann Tobias Beck (1804-1878) became God’s instrument. At their very first meeting, Beck asked Otto what he was looking to learn in his lectures.
“I am looking for the truth,” Otto said. Beck replied: “Then you are looking for something great. If you really want to find the truth, then you must not only strive to possess the truth but want the truth to take complete possession of your heart and will. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ says: ‘If anyone wills to do His will…’ You know how that verse continues, don’t you?” – “He shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17).
Otto was so moved that he couldn’t answer. Beck laid his hand on his head in a fatherly manner and said: “May God give you the strength to really want to!”
That same afternoon, Otto went for a walk with Beck to the famous Wurmlinger Chapel. For Otto, this walk was the path to a new life. He wrote about it himself:
“Beck asked me why I hadn’t stayed in Halle. I replied that the denominational disputes had repulsed me so much and completely confused my heart. He sighed deeply and was silent for a long time. Then he said: ‘In the kingdom of God there is peace everywhere. The quarrels arise because people have no confidence in the victory of the truth. People try to help and support truth along. The apostles offered the truth but did not argue about it. The gospel addresses the inner spirit and the conscience. There it confirms itself if you give it space. Don’t worry about the world and its noise! Leave all church doctrines where they are and become a quiet, humble student of the Word of God!’
I felt obliged to mention, for honesty’s sake, that there was much in the Scriptures that caused me great doubt. Beck responded calmly, as if this was nothing special:
‘Dear Otto, have you ever questioned your doubts? Do so seriously! Put a big question mark after every question mark that your critical mind raises! First of all, leave what you cannot yet understand or bear alone. Even the Lord’s apostles could not bear everything at first. Stick to what you understand and what has taken hold of you. Enough will come that will appear to you clearly and distinctly as divine truth. Hold on to it, work with it, and live it out to the best of your ability in everyday life. Put aside for later what seems offensive or strange to you. Do not reject it in proud defiance, but also do not torture yourself to believe something that you cannot believe at the moment. Submit only to what you have recognized as truth in simple-minded obedience. Obedience, my young friend, is the most important thing. When the Word of God works in you, the doubts disappear by themselves, just as the old, dry leaves fall from the oaks while the sap remains in the trunk.’
I was filled with hope and strength. I immediately felt that the man was right. It was all so simple and understandable. Nothing seemed artificial or contrived. And yet there was spirit and truth in everything. I realized that this impressive man had achieved everything he was solely by submitting to the divine Word.
After a long pause, I said: ‘Professor, I would love to have peace!’ With that, I had revealed my whole heart.
Beck stopped, looked deep into my eyes, and said with solemn seriousness: ‘You will find peace. But finding peace does not mean having peace for the flesh. Anyone who wants that does not honestly want peace. In this world, there is no peace of heart without constant self-denial and daily struggle.’ And then this old man of God showed me the cross of Jesus in a way I had never seen before. He spoke of the One who died for my sins, who did everything so that I could have peace.”
When Otto Funke returned home from this walk, he locked the door to his study, sank to his knees, and talked to God for a long, long time. During this conversation, it became increasingly clear to him that God was close to him and had heard his call for peace. This was the quiet beginning of what Otto later tried to pass on to people in his many speeches and writings: The peace that the world cannot give but also cannot take away (see John 14:27).
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