Friday, September 12, 2014

Making the World a Little Brighter

GO therefore and make disciples of all nations.

The ring of the great commission is always in my ears.  Recently, when talking with friends I heard someone say, “I am glad I am not called to go.  I would much rather pray or give than go.”  Hearing this, I felt myself start to cringe.  Knowing this individual’s heart, I don’t think that it was meant in the way it sounded; however, I feel it is important to use this statement to bring to light a thought that I feel is prevalent in some believers’ minds.

I think some Christians use prayer or giving as an excuse to run away from the great commission.  Not that these are not important and do not play a large part in missions (we, ourselves, could not survive without these two).  Also, I do not aim to offend any of those who are praying or giving towards what God is doing among us in Kenya. We are all a part; it is not us going, others giving, or those praying, but God doing the work in Kenya.  However, I do not think that giving or praying gets an individual out of going- not that going means moving overseas, leaving your family, or going without electricity.  Rather the command GO seems to mean to go into the world and be a light.  The world is a dark and sick place, but it also can be filled with hope.  We are called into every corner of it as a light, be that in the workplace, the marketplace, or overseas.  The call to go is immanent.  You may not have to go far, but you must go nonetheless.  I have seen some of the people I admire most be lights in their places of work, the places they visit, and are lights in everything they do; without ever stepping foot overseas.  

 
This brings us to the original purpose of this post- the things that keep us from going.  Recently I have recognized more and more things in my life that make it harder to go.  Not that I have ever felt like I should not go, however, there are many things that tug at my heart strings and make it hard to let go, and GO to the world.  Family is a huge thing; probably one of the hardest things for Audrey and me is leaving our families for a long period of time and leaving them in God’s hands.  It is not even half as hard as it was for others before us, now that we have new technology, cheap phone rates and skype.  We can still keep in touch and it is only a small sacrifice, but many before us have had to forsake loved ones for the sake of the gospel.  Leaving family is hard; through sickness, disease, old age, and difficulties, we want to be there for the ones we love, and it does not seem to be a bad thing, but it is something that keeps believers from going.  We see this struggle in Luke 14 when Christ says one must be able to put his family second and follow Christ foremost.  

We struggle with other more insignificant things too: work, career, houses, babies, friends, and so on.  What will we do when we return?  Will we be able to have decent jobs?  Do we make a career of missions?  Will we ever be able to retire, if we never have a real job in the states?  Will we be able to buy a house and provide for kids?  Just as with family, we are missing out on our friends’ lives, marriages, holidays, and babies- all the fun milestones that many enjoy.  Will we be able to reintegrate back into society, or will we be (even more so) the weird kids on the block? 

My point is that it is hard to go!  It seems, especially as it grows closer, there are so many things that pop up and entice us not to go, or at least make it more difficult to go.  Also, I do not believe it is any easier to be a light here.  Going into your neighborhood, workplace, or marketplace is just as scary (just in a different way).  Instead of snakes you have social perceptions, instead of malaria you have ostracization.  These are very real fears that keep us from being lights. 

I guess in all of this, my point is that we are all called to go.  No one call is greater than another.  Some are called overseas and some are called nearer to home, but do not let excuses keep you from going and being a light.  Some are called to give, others to pray, some to go overseas, but all are called to be lights of the world.  So be lights to the places that you have been called, be lights in the dark places.  Go unto the world and be lights.