The Secret Door — Corrie Ten Boom

Very little needs to be said about Corrie ten Boom. The experiences of her life are known to millions through the book the hiding place. But I know that when I read the book the remarkable events in her life seemed almost too unreal to actually have happened to one person.

I Asked myself. How could she endure? How could she show love for her tormentors? How could her faith survive? Then we begin to work on this special recording. We just turn the recorder on and let Tante Corrie Tell us in her own words how God has blessed her and used her and expressed his love through her.

We could see then how the fact that she was chosen to serve her Lord through suffering and hardship was actually a fulfillment of her own faith and We could see beautiful evidence of how all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to his purpose.

We know you'll never forget meeting Corrie ten Boom. My grandfather was a watchmaker.

A Family Formed by Prayer and Compassion

We were all watchmakers my grandfather my father and I and In the same house where I have lived 53 years of my life and father has lived in more than 80 years in that same house in 1844. And minister Witterveen came to grandfather and said won't you pray for the Jewish people and Father said that his grandfather said that's a new idea for me.

I will invite my friends and then he invited his friends and once a week they came together and prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and For the happiness of the Jews. That was so unusual in that time now.

It's not unusual many Christians pray for the Jews and for the peace of Jerusalem. But in that time it was so new that father knew that the year that they started it was 1844. Hundred years later in that very same house grandfather's son four of grandfather's grandchildren and a great grandson were Arrested because they had saved Jewish people.

That was a divine man not to understand answer on prayer for the Jews. My family was a very happy family. We were not rich in money. We were even now sometimes very poor but we were rich in other things and that was also Because my father was such an unusual man.

These people I see back had the what we call the science of life. They knew how to live also in difficult circumstances. My father was an old-fashioned man. He had a long beard and he was Now used to pray Before and after every meal our Talks at a table at the meals were always interesting.

Father didn't like when we giggled. But he liked humor and the talks at the table were so interesting that we learned much and I remember that father always in his Thank you prayer after the meals. Just took all the a little bit of summary of our talks and brought it to the Lord and thanked him for we had learned and praised him for the riches and Asked forgiveness when we had been gospelling.

But always he he brought the the talks during the meals to the Lord and thanked him. Our house was wide open for people who were in In need and we had very much conversation many very many visitors. But the visitors did not come for social talking.

There were people who were in need or they were people who Helped us in helping the needy people. It was a very very happy family. We Got a very difficult life in our family when the occupation was there.

The Underground Work of Saving Those in Peril

But after some time we just came into the work of the underground. We try to save Jewish people as many as we could. Always there were some in our house and some also Underground workers. Young boys boys were in danger.

Not so much as the Jews because Jews they wanted to they wanted to kill the Jews. But the boys they wanted to bring to Germany for the ammunition factories. So we had hidden places where we could hide the boys and the Jews.

In my house, we made a special Hiding place That you could not find because the secret was that they made a second brick wall. So you could not find that behind that brick wall was still a secret room.

And it was really a good room for when I was arrested and the rest of my family in that secret room. We had four Jews and two underground workers and they have not found that Them and they were were saved after three days.

But in my sister Noli was married and they had a hiding place under the table in the kitchen and there the boys always could go and once there was a Raid on they they tried to find the boys and we the boys of my sister saw them coming.

The whole street was just Visited by the German Soldiers and every boy and young man was taken. My sister hid the two boys who were at home under their kitchen table and we put they put a little Carpet over it and then a table now then the Germans came in and They asked the girls.

Have you brothers? Yes, they said we have brothers. How many? Three. Where are they and the girl said under the table now? My sister had told the girls and never to say a lie. But then she was of course in attention and then she started to laugh and the man just took up the table cloth and looked under the table and didn't see anyone and Then that girl started to laugh and to laugh and that that German soldier got a red face and he thought now that girl just Teases me and tells nonsense.

So he turned around and Ran away and left the house alone when we were working in the underground once I heard that in a Jewish orphanage in Amsterdam the babies had to be killed. I work with many teenagers 30 boys and 20 girls 20 men and 10 women and I said to the boys Save the the the babies of the Jewish orphanage and these boys stole them.

Now how they did it exactly, I don't know because I I did not want to know the things because when I Could I could later be tortured and then when I didn't know anything I couldn't tell anything. But I understand that they used German uniforms, you know, sometimes in German Men came to a soldier and said we will not go on To work for Adolf Hitler.

He is no good. Can you help us and I said I sure can help you and I hid these soldiers somewhere in a farm. For the rest of the war the duration of the war then they were hidden and I took the uniforms.

So we could often do this my boys could do things often in uniforms or the Germans my girls Distributed these babies in one day. That was not difficult. Just imagine when I have a baby in my hands, I say when you save this baby and when you don't do it This baby can be killed.

Of course, you should take the baby. It was it was a joy and one of the boys. One of my teenagers said I believe we do the most important things. Work the most important work that that there is just saving lives.

The Most Important Work Is Saving Souls

The name of that boy was Pete Hutto. I said Pete I think That we do an important work when I think of the babies that we have saved. But there is a work that is more important and that is saving souls and tell people about Jesus then Pete laughed.

He said I am a Christian. I read my Bible I pray I go to church, but telling people about Jesus that is good business for my pastor. I said Pete every Christian is called to be a soul winner for Jesus.

I said like the father has sent me so I Sent you and in your life will come a time that you will see the most important work for you. Half a year Later Pete was arrested and heard that he had only one week to live the day before he was killed.

He wrote us a letter all the boys and men in my cell are sentenced to death. And I'm so glad that I could tell them about Jesus. Many accepted Jesus and I know that when they will shoot us tomorrow They will go to heaven.

Because they have brought their sins to Jesus and he has made him children of God. So we know that the house of the father with many mentions is our very close future. I Was so happy to hear that. Once I was in Australia and I met a Dutchman.

He said do you remember that I lived in Harlem your hometown and Do you remember that you Brought me a Jewish baby boy of two weeks old. I said no I know that there were about hundred but to whom I send him.

I don't know yet. I will never forget it. We had Had a baby and had died and my wife cried one evening. She said look now I have all everything for a baby with my heart and Hands are empty and then there was knock at the door and the came a boy and he said Corita mom asked Will you save a Jewish baby boy?

And we said yes, and you brought us the most beautiful baby boy. We have ever seen in our life. We have adopted him later. We went to Australia and he has always been a good son for us and he turned and said Martin come here and I came at 14 years old Jewish boy to me.

He said that's the baby that you have born. I was so moved and a beautiful boy it was her and Martin I became friends. I went with the people that evening to have a Dutch cup of coffee and Martin was just asking me questions.

And we were he was just looking at me the lady who has saved my life. The next day Martin came in school and he said to the teacher may I say something to the boys and girls he said go ahead. He had boys and girls yesterday.

I have met a lady and she has saved my life when I was two weeks old and Boys and girls. I think I will be a good boy now for she has also taught me how to ask Jesus to come into my heart and Jesus in my heart will make me a good boy.

That was for me the evidence that he really meant it when Jesus in your heart you have a burden for souls. Once there was a woman with a baby in my house and I didn't know where to bring her my house was full already and there came a minister visiting father and Father said to him Will you save a baby it is in great danger and the mother's in danger and the Pastor said what do you mean that they are Jews?

Yes. He said no, I dare not do that and don't tell me that you do such things. You are 84 years old and when you save Jewish people, do you know that you can come in in prison? That can take your life.

Yes father said I know it and I know that when they bring me in prison I'm too old for prison life. But when that should happen, it should be an honor to give my life for God's ancient people the Jews.

And the minister said no I will not help you and I you must stop this work and then I Came in with a baby and father took the baby in his arm. I will never forget that father. It is a long beard such like a patriarch and he had that baby in his hand and he was fond of Children and he looked at that little baby was such a love.

And he said is it worthwhile to give my life for this baby and That minister turned around and left Yes, father really has given his life for God's ancient people and I believe in the blessing of Abraham.

The Blessing of Abraham and Courageous Faith

Those who bless Abram will be blessed and those who curse Abram will be cursed. And I believe that I have such a tremendous blessed life as 80 years old Woman that I can bring the gospel almost every day and I can go on with my work and by by the book.

And by the film it will be I will have more opportunities than ever before and I believe I have to thank that through the blessing of Abraham. You know, I am a very very stupid when you awaken me in the midst of the night.

I am a deep sleeper and Very often the Gestapo came in the night. So I said once to the these underground workers who were in my in my house say I went early to bed and they went very late to bed before you go to sleep to try to Find out if there are Jews in the house.

So they awakened me and said where are the six Jews you have in the house? And I tried to be very clever and said no I have not six Jews. I have only two Jews. They said Auntie, Tante, you are so stupid to say that.

Of course you must say we have no Jews. I said oh, that's true. Now try it tomorrow again, and they awaken me again again, then they said Tante, that's auntie, Tante. Where are the ration cards you have for the Jews?

So I thought now they are in the secret closet so I must say something else and I said they are in the big clock in the in the shop. They said Tante, you must not say that in another place. But you must say we have no ration card for the Jews.

So I said yes, I see it I am so stupid now be sure that you you do this till I am really trained to say good answers when you just get me from my sleep, and there was a friend of the police and he worked with us together and sometimes he came also and asked me questions and After I believe after the tenth time they said now you have passed your examination.

And you are you know what to answer when later I was was questioned by the real Gestapo. I Was so trained that it was not difficult to answer once I was ill and when I was dreaming in my feverish dream I heard the alarm we had through our whole house alarm buttons and I thought How strange this alarm.

That seems that that there is really danger. The secret room was in my bedroom. So I saw the Jews who were in house ran to the secret room. I said what's the matter? Is it this real alarm? So I understood the Gestapo had found our address.

They all disappeared Into the secret room then I saw my little bag and I knew in my bag my handbag were ration cards and all kinds of things so I just opened the Secret room again and threw my bag into that hiding place.

And then suddenly the Gestapo there came a man in and said you are a Jew. I said no I am NOT he said what is it give me your Identification card so I took my I gave it, but when I took it from that little bag There was also money and he grabbed that money and put it in his back pocket and then He saw that my identification card was okay, but he said Arise stand up and you are my prisoner and then I came downstairs.

Sacrificial Obedience Under Arrest

But now there was one moment and that was a terrible Temptation. I Knew that I know there was a danger that I could be Arrested and I had a little bag What I call my prison bag, and I had the most important things in it a toothbrush and a little aspirin and All the little soap and all things I had put it before the opening of the secret room.

That When I take that bag The opening is not seen because it was closed and was very well made. But it could be that because there was no nothing that it could be dangerous. And because it could be dangerous.

I did not take that bag with me and oh Later when I thought oh if only I had had that bag If only all when I think was all what was all in that bag soap and a toothbrush I had nothing at all five weeks.

I had absolutely nothing but then I understood this was a sacrifice and I don't know if you understand it. But it was one of my greatest sacrifices that I did not take that back, and I'm glad I didn't.

Because here I saw that Lord gave me grace to sacrifice for other people. And then they know then I came downstairs, and I found that 35 people were arrested with us and then They they all they broke the doors of some rooms.

And because they said we will find the secret room and then they They couldn't find it, and they haven't found it. But they took me to the to the shop, and then he said where's your secret room. I? said I have not I have no secret room then he beat me in my face and He did that so terrible that Everything was stars, and it was a terrible pain, but it this the pain disappeared very quickly.

But I got dizzy and when he went on beating me. I certainly shouted Lord Jesus cover me. He said when you say that name. I'll murder you, but he could not beat me any longer then my sister was questioned Betsy and They they beat her also, and they beat her so so much that she was dead for the rest of her life and And Suddenly she cried Lord my Savior.

Where are you and that moment? They couldn't beat her any longer, but when she came back in the room. I saw that her face was swollen. I said did he beat you and she said yes, and I am so sorry for the man who did it.

I thought that was beautiful because it makes you bitter when people make you suffering by cruelty said. But she was only sorry for the man who did it now then they brought us to the Police station and from the police station to prison in the concentration camps.

Jesus Is Victor in the Concentration Camp

In the first in the prison I was formed in solitary confinement. Then I they brought us to first that was not a very bad concentration camp. I had to work in a factory for Phillips, and I almost had a normal life as an factory worker.

But then this D-Day came and they shot Almost a thousand of us dead prisoners and the rest were sent to Germany and so I came in Ravensbruck north of Berlin that was a terrible concentration camp for 97 ,000 women Died or were killed.

Also Betsy my sister now after some weeks the younger strong Prisoners of us we were with about a thousand from Holland. They were Found out everyone who was strong enough. They had gotten medical examination.

They they wanted to send them to the ammunition factories so 250 of our younger prisoners were sent there, and we were so terrible Concerned about them we thought Ammunition factory will be bombed and they are in great danger of life.

But I was very much concerned and we knew at midnight at 12 they should pass the big gate and I prayed Lord. What can I do and Then the Lord told me something to do and I did it now. This was a really and a very dangerous thing.

But I learned that when God tells you to do something also when it is difficult He gives you the strength and the courage to do it without him. I should never have dared it. I Went through the window of my barrack, and I waited till the search light of the guards passed us that the search light went the whole night around the Concentration camp and everyone who was not in the barrack was shot.

So I waited till that search light had passed and then I ran to the other side of the Street and there I went in the shadow Where the search light never came and I found a little corner rather close to the gate Where I knew that all these 250 fellow prisoners had to pass.

There I stood in that corner. It was dark and they could not see me. But when the first came when they marched through the gate I said so loud that they could hear it, but not the guards Jesus is Victor.

They said Corrie Can't you do that go back to your barrack. They will kill you, but they had to march on and I said underneath us are the everlasting arms Thank you, but oh you are in danger and they walk on and then I said the Lord has said I am your good Shepherd and then I repeated Jesus is Victor and so everyone who passed me got a little word of Encouragement.

When they all had passed then I waited again that the search light had passed and I ran to my window and Jumped into my barrack, but she said where were you? I was a whole time praying for you. And I told her what I had done, and she said oh praise the Lord that he gave you the courage to do that later I met Doctor's wife who told me she was one of the 250 and she said Corrie the next day we came in an factory Ammunition factory and that night the factory was bombed all the civil Workers went into a hiding place.

How do you call the bomb shelter, but we were not allowed. So we were sitting in a big room where we had to sleep and the room was closed we could not run away and we heard the bombs falling and We knew now any moment can come a bomb to destroy this room.

She said I was sitting in a corner and I just repeated Corrie ten Boom has said Jesus is Victor. Yes, Jesus is Victor and then The bomb shelter or the other workers and factory workers where Was bombed and destroyed all were killed and they were not killed after all 249 came out alive when I was facing death.

The Word of God in Suffering and Death

I Did not know before that one week before they killed all the women of my age in the gas chamber I should be set free. So I have looked death in the eyes every day. When I saw the smoke go up, I asked myself when will be my time to be killed.

Now when you look death in the eyes, you see see things very simple. Life is simple and death is simple. I Saw for instance in my life the devil is strong much stronger than I but there was Jesus Much stronger than the devil very strong and together with Jesus.

I was stronger than the devil it is so so simple, huh, but that helps me now, too and That is what you learn through the word of God. I Learned the word of God is one of the greatest. No, it is the greatest possession of a human being.

I Had my Bible hidden on my back. It was a little Bible, but the whole old and New Testament special printed for underground workers because we knew that we could be arrested and By a miracle of God I could give twice a day a Bible message or Betsy or I did it to the prisoners who were around us and And What a joy to have the word of God in Colossians 111 is written as you live this new life.

We pray that you will be strengthened from God's boundless resources. So that you will find yourself able to pass through any experience and endure it with courage. This book Gives the answer For times of great sorrow and suffering.

In this book is written the suffering of this time is not worthy to be compared with the common glory. In this book is written God himself will wipe away the tears from the eyes. The hands of our head are numbered.

That means that the most unimportant things of our life are Really in the hands of God. Oh Lord Jesus, I praise and thank you for the opportunity you gave to tell a little bit about my experiences and About your word.

Thank you Lord for your word. And I pray that everyone who has listened now to this message That you will open their eyes. That they will see how you loved him. You.