Faith In Action
We are the family of God, the Church of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the things we were created uniquely to do according to His will. This sounds impressive on the surface, does it not? But how many of us can honestly say we have assessed the purpose for which we are here on the earth. How many of us can say we have faith enough to step into that which God has already prepared for us to step into? Since the beginning of time, historical circumstances have not been about man and what his desires are for the universe. All historic precedence are about one thing…God, and Him accomplishing His purposes.
Here in Colombia, every time we walk out the front door of our apartment building, we are faced with the fact that we are stepping into the unknown and out on faith alone. God has divinely opened many doors to us in a world where He wants to impart a lasting spiritual change in the people for His Glory. Many times we follow the call of God on our lives without knowing exactly what that call will bring about.
In reflection we remember the reactions we received from people, most Christian, as we were preparing to come here. While most people were encouraging to us, we heard other things, some not so nice. We were told we didn’t fit the missionary stereotype. We were told missionaries were a “different breed.” Some couldn’t understand giving up the ‘American Dream’ that we would accomplish in just a couple more years. Some said though they trusted God could provide all their needs, they just could not quit their job and give up everything they had worked for. Our answer…it’s not about us or for us!
Alan Hirsch in “The Forgotten Ways” states that Paul completes his exploration into the mystery of God’s involvement in our world with an ecstatec doxology, the substance of which takes us to the very essence of reality. He says:
Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
We need to critically think about where we are as the Body of Christ. The Christian church in China is the fastest growing movement since the first century church. S. B. Addison in “Movement Dynamic, Keys to the Expansion and Renewal of the Church in Mission” concludes that they (dynamic christian movements) are maintained throughout by what he calls “white hot faith” brought about by a rediscovery of the place and importance of Jesus.
The persecuted are driven to live very close to their faith in abiding authenticity. If we are willing to die for the faith, then we advance beyond easy believism into the realms of genuine faith and love for God. For an underground church, all the clutter of unnecessary traditional interpretations and theological paraphernalia is removed. Faith is once again linked in utter simplicity to Jesus, the author and completer of the faith. The heart of all great movements is a recovery of simple conceptions of who Jesus is and what he does. He brings us to the heart of God’s redemptive claim over our lives.
God has at His disposal a redeemed people. We are a people who should rejoice that we would be found worthy to face difficulty or suffering in our pursuit to accomplish His purpose. None of us has actually seen God, but we have received salvation through faith. None of us can actually reach out and physically touch his nail pierced hands, but by faith we know His presence dwells within our hearts.
Hebrews 11:1-2 says: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.
God desires that we listen and obey as He beckons us to His divine call. We may not know where God is taking us, but we can be assured that the hope of glory lay ahead of us no matter what we face. Though we may not see the outcome, we can live with the conviction that God will accomplish His purpose through us if we let Him. When we respond in obedience to God we gain His approval. We don’t need man’s.
Oh! Let us glory in His riches and wisdom. Who are we to question Him about where he takes us or what he sets as our task on the earth. When all is done with our life here, the words we should long to hear from Him should be, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.”
Kevin will be answering a difficult call in the coming weeks. He will be taking the gospel to an unreached indigenous tribe in the heart of the guerilla/narco-terrorist controlled jungle. Please remember him in prayer. “Thy will be done Lord, on earth, as it is in heaven.”