I've been in an international mood for the last little
while... I watched "Mr. Baseball" on VHS a while back (great movie
with a sweet story, but I don't care to see it again due to all the language
and locker room scenes...)- and that got me enamored with all things Japan.
(Since the movie mainly takes place there.) So, I naturally followed up with
the excellent 1989 Sesame Street production, "Big Bird in Japan". :-)
And then I watched one of my favorite Quantum Leap episodes- "The Americanization
of Machiko" (which deals with the treatment of Japanese in America shortly
after World War II).
Then, I had
more international celebrations when I went to the first annual international
festival in Greer. It was so great speaking with so many people from so many
lands, seeing pictures of their lands, hearing music from their countries,
seeing a cricket demonstration :-) and just celebrating the wonderful world God
has made. (Later that weekend, I followed up with watching Sesame Street's
other travelogue- the 1983 "Big Bird in China". :-) Both of these
Sesame Street videos really do a great job of showing some of the famous sights
of both lands and teaching children some key words in each language and sharing
part of their culture and showing the beauty of their people.) And on Sunday
afternoon and evening, I visited the Arabic Baptist Church that meets at my
church and enjoyed worshipping The Lord together with them. A sweet lady there
translated the whole service into English for me. The pastor delivered a
convicting message about the cross and the choice we all must make about who we
say Jesus is- I agree with Peter; He is The Christ, The Son of the Living God.
I listened to
the English translation of the many songs they sang in Arabic and was
encouraged and moved by the words, all of which were very Biblical and many
times taken straight from Scripture- I always love hearing that. :-) And one
song actually had "Hallelujah" in it, so I could definitely sing
that. And I believe the very first song we sang was "How Great Thou
Art". I LOVE that hymn- and its subject, of course. How great God is-
truly! It was totally awesome praising The Lord Jesus Christ with my brothers
and sisters in The Lord, hearing me singing the verses I could recall in
English blended with their Arabic. :-) (I tried to sing some of the Arabic
words here and there where I could make them out on some songs. They all had a
neat beat- it was interesting hearing authentic Egyptian style worship music.
Yeah- most all of the church members are from Egypt- so I got to not only walk
like an Egyptian, but sing and do church like an Egyptian too. :-)
And some
Egyptian Christians have an incredible walk with The Lord too and that was very
encouraging to me to see-and to talk with Mrs. Rola (hope I spelt that right)
at length about our testimonies. It was interesting to hear the contrast, with
her coming out of the Orthodox Church in Egypt- getting away from rituals and
praying to the saints and Mary, but never really truly being directed to Jesus
Himself, Who alone gives salvation. It was a vast difference when she came to
put her faith in Jesus and follow Him.
I have sort
of the opposite experience, having grown up with parents who love Jesus and
learning about Christ at an early age and following in my sister's and
brother's footsteps and coming to first trust Jesus as Savior as a young boy,
one night after devotions. I still remember being so excited very soon
afterwards to tell my younger brother that I was a Christian now and to tell
him how he could know Jesus as Savior too. :-) (He came to make that decision
at an early age too. :-))
I told her
how it's funny how Christians with my testimony sometimes make this kinda silly
talk about wishing we had a more dramatic testimony. Like, if I had been an
alcoholic and abusive to my family and a convicted thief and then had gotten
saved and seen Jesus deliver me from all those things- then I would really know
in a clear-cut way that He had truly saved me. But then Mrs. Rola reminded me
that I have a wonderful testimony because God has blessed me with a longer time
to know Him and follow Him. And she even said she was jealous of me for that.
It was kinda funny to think about some, but of course she's right. It's like
sometimes I've wanted to see something dramatic and drastic to really know
Christ truly lives in me and has saved me- and then I got reminded that Christ
has indeed saved me from all these things- so that I haven't ever been an
alcoholic or gotten drunk (I choose not to drink at all- I did have wine at
communion at a church once though- didn't realize it was wine at the time
though. ;-) And wow- it has a bit of a sting- I could tell that wasn't grape
juice. lol) I haven't abused anyone physically or been a convicted thief.
[Though, to be clear, I must admit, I have been guilty of
stealing time and other intangible things at times and of being verbally
abusive, among so many other sins.] But Jesus loves me and has forgiven me of
all of them because I asked Him to do so. I trust His cross has pardoned me
from all of them. Jesus died and rose again to give me salvation and I have put
my faith in Him and trust that He has done just what He said He would do and
given me salvation.
As this
sweet Egyptian-American lady told me, both of us are like the vineyard workers
Jesus told a parable about once. (Matthew 20:1-16) I came at the start of the
day and she came at the end of the day- but both of us get paid the same thing.
:-) Praise God!
We both
shared about how we try to be missionaries where God has put us and share any
part of the Word of God that we can and tell people the Good News of Jesus
wherever the Holy Spirit gives us opportunities. That was also encouraging to
hear- it's good to know and hear of the many God has out in His fields working
and sowing the seed. Sometimes we plant the seed, sometimes we water, and
sometimes we even get to see the fruit come up- but it's God who gives the
growth. (1 Corinthians 3:1-9) The important thing is to be faithful in sharing
and let God's Spirit work as He will for the results. Rest assured that every
bit of Scripture you can share goes out with a purpose- and God will fulfill
that purpose with it. (Isaiah 55:11)
At both
the Arabic church and at the international festival, I thought of the same
Bible verse- Revelation 7:9. This beautiful verse speaks of an awesome moment
when those of us who know and follow Christ as Savior will stand with Him in a
crowd of multitudes that no one can count, which is comprised of some from
every tribe, nation, tongue, language and race. What an amazing and beautiful
scene- this is a scene of the world as God meant it to be- one people united in
Christ and singing His praises for all eternity! And the Paradise Lost in Eden
will one day be Paradise Regained in the new Eden- Heaven.
But even as I consider that scene, while
it was a joyous thing to contemplate at the Arabic church with brothers and
sisters I know that Jesus has redeemed and will be with me and Him there in
Heaven, it was a very sad thing to think of all those peoples from all over the
world at the international fair that Jesus also loves and has died and risen
for- but who have not yet put their faith in Jesus- and some because they
simply have not heard yet. There is still a mission field out there that God
the Father has called us all to work. And there is a real Hell and Heaven and
those two are the only options for people's eternal destinations. When we have
a mission of eternal importance to every human being in the history of the
universe, we have a major impetus to get out the Gospel. God is long-suffering
and doesn't want to see anyone perish, but for all to come to repentance. (2
Peter 3:9) And He expects us to be faithful and share His message with others.
Now, remember- we can't force their hand and make them choose anything. No one
has ever been argued or convinced into Heaven by the clever oratory skills of
man. (Of which, if he has any- they are all a gift from God to begin with.)
It's only The Holy Spirit working in people Who brings them to salvation. But
we must be faithful to do our part and leave the results to Him.
"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few. Ask The Lord of the harvest, therefore, to
send out workers into His harvest field.' " (Matthew 9:37-38)
(Note: Definitely pray this prayer- and remember that you're
part of the answer to your own prayer. If you have put faith in Jesus for
salvation, you are a field reaper- so get busy working in the fields.)
Don't
worry about what you will say- God the Holy Spirit will provide you with that.
Just ask God for the boldness to speak when He gives you the chance and for the
boldness to follow His lead and make the opportunity when the Spirit leads you
to someone who may still need to trust Christ.
And, of
course- make sure to live out the talk too. Live the life. Walk as Jesus did.
Love God with all you've got, love your neighbors and love your enemies. Pray
for them. Do the right thing even when no one else is and no one else is
looking- except God. Seek The Lord while He may be found- draw near to Him and
He'll draw near to you. Trust Him and trust His promises. Seize the moment and
rescue the perishing.
And
remember that your mission field does not have to be some other country you've
never been to somewhere- though it certainly can be- but until God directs you
to go there, your mission field is right where God has placed you now. Do good
now- don't wait for anything; jump right in and share of Jesus right where you
are. And pray for God to work and trust that He will do just that.
Then one
day we will see that scene in Heaven come true and all join in bowing down and
praising The Lamb who was slain for all the sins of the world- The Lamb who is
risen and stands victorious forevermore! Praise The Lord Jesus Christ forever!
Lord, You are forever crowned with all crowns. You are Lord, God, Savior,
Brother and Lover and Friend. Thank You for Your love that is SO much more than
my paltry definition can ever possibly strain to contain. You are Love itself-
and because You have first loved us, we love You. Help us to show Your love to
everyone so that all peoples may know You too.
)