The CV Chronicles: My Heart For Missions

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

~Romans 10:14-15~

This summer has been instrumental in deepening my understanding of missions. I have been so blessed this summer to meet full time missionaries from all over the world. I've met missionaries from places as exotic as Africa to as domestic as Birmingham. Yet no matter what the location these people are joyfully serving God and reaching the unreached. Through many presentations and conversations my heart has been moving from "I would like to do missions" to "I MUST do missions". I have seen the need. I have heard their cries. I can no longer deny the burden in my heart. How could I live the rest of my life here in the safety of America, while millions of people pass into eternity without Christ.

The itch began, as do most of my passions, with a book. Over the past few years I've read many biographies of the great missionaries of the last two centuries: Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, Gladys Alwyard, Amy Carmichael, Eric Liddell. The list goes on and on. I have been inspired by their faith and their commitment to their convictions. I am humbled by their profound humility and reliance on the Lord.  


I do not know what the Lord has in store for me in the future. I always tell myself, tongue-in-cheek, that I might die of an aneurism tomorrow, so I shouldn't get too caught up in my plans. But, I pray that God would allow me to see the realization of my dream. To take the gospel to a people who have not heard it before. 

To those who would decry my dream because it isn't safe. I would reply: Of course it isn't safe! But, what is safety? I'll tell you what safety is: Safety is at best, an illusion and at worst, a prison. What's the point of trying to live a safe life? Your body is actively decaying. It's like trying to shine a rotten apple. Now I'm not talking about being foolish, I'm talking about making moves for the Gospel that might cost you something. In some situations it might cost you a relationship, or even your job; in other situations, it may cost you your very life. Listen brethren, if we value personal safety over the advancement of the kingdom, we are mistaken. Why are we so content to let our lives quietly slip through our fingers like grains of sand? Contentedly building our little towers of self-indulgence, when every single day countless souls enter the gates of Hell without even once hearing the name of Christ? To quote one of my favorite preachers Paul Washer "Go out there and die!" 
 

The children here at CV have no idea how truly blessed they are to be hearing what they are hearing. How many thousands of souls pass to the grave every day without ever even hearing the name of Christ! How many people groups have no national gospel witness? Christ must be proclaimed to all the nations, like John Piper says “missions exists because worship doesn’t".  These people were made to worship the God who made them, but they walk in darkness. Let us go and preach the gospel to them! What do we have to fear?  Hasn’t God told us “do not fear him who can kill the body and afterwards do no more, but fear Him who after he has killed the body can cast both body and soul into hell. I say fear Him” What can man do to me? I am praying that I have ‘beautiful feet’


There is a well worn groove in the back of my mind from countless days and nights of mental pacing. I continually question myself: What is the gospel worth to me? 


I want to know if my life will match what I say that I believe. I want to put feet to my speech, so to speak.  


In so many ways, I speak in complete ignorance. Some are of the opinion that is is best then to keep quiet. I, however, am of the opinion that the only way to have my ignorance corrected and my thought processes refined is to take the time to hash out my worldview and have it subsequently critiqued. I heartily welcome the criticism of my brothers and sisters in Christ.


Is not the God who gave His all, worthy of my all? What shall I withhold from the Lord my God?