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.
