“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Out of the great revival, many missionaries came to Northeast India to spread the gospel. The region of Assam was home to many tribes, known to be aggressive and even headhunters. Into this hostile community, a group of missionaries from the American Baptist Mission came to preach the message of love, peace, and hope found in Jesus Christ to the Garo tribe.

In this challenging environment, one man named Nokseng, together with his wife and two children, accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. His faith began to influence others, and many gave their lives to Christ. However, the village chief grew angry. He summoned the family who had first accepted Christ and demanded that the man publicly renounce his faith—or face death.

Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man declared: “I have decided to follow Jesus.” Furious, the chief ordered his two children to be killed with arrows. As their bodies fell to the ground, the chief gave him another chance: “Renounce your faith, or I will kill your wife.” The man replied: “Though no one goes with me, still I will follow.” Enraged, the chief ordered his wife to be killed as well.

Finally, the chief gave one last chance for the man to deny Christ and save his own life. His final words were: “The cross before me, the world behind me—no turning back.” He was then killed like the rest of his family.

But the story did not end there. The chief, who had ordered the killings, was deeply moved by such faith. He wondered why a man, his wife, and children would willingly die for someone who lived in a faraway land centuries ago. Convicted, he realized there must be an extraordinary power behind their faith, and he wanted to experience that love. The chief himself confessed Jesus as Lord and declared his faith publicly.

When the villagers heard their chief, they too accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. The man’s last words became the inspiration for the famous hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

In the Bible, we also read about David, a warrior who once fled for his life. To escape death, he even pretended to be insane before his enemies (1 Samuel 21). In that desperate moment, David later wrote: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). A warrior, running for his life, still testified of God’s goodness and encourages us to do the same.

Both this martyred family and David remind us that even in life-or-death situations, it is the love and peace of God that satisfies the soul. When you truly taste the goodness of God, you will decide to follow Him—and never turn back.

Today, I invite you: Jesus has set a place for you at His table. Come, taste His goodness. I am confident that you too will never turn back.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your love, Your goodness, and Your peace. Give me the opportunity to know You more deeply and to taste Your goodness, so that I may never turn back. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.