Wait…what?
Why?
I typically answer that question with a "why not?"
But this race warrants a bigger answer.
In Matthew 10, Jesus sends his disciples out into th world telling them to go to the "lost sheep of Israel", preaching this message – "The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead…freely you have received, so freely give."
In Matthew 28, Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded to you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of men.
He didn't say go if you feel like going, if you have the money, if you have the free time.
He said GO.
So I'm going. Going to the lost sheep of Isreal. To the lost sheep of Africa and Asia and the Caribbean.
11 countries. 11 months.
This journey is going to be crazy in every way. I know that it won't be hearts and flowers all the time. It will be hard, it will be challenging, and I'm sure I'll question this decision to go at least once, but Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy or pretty or that it would always be fun. But He did promise that it would be worth it. And that He will always be with me. Through every season, Jesus has been right there, holding my hand and encouraging me…even when I didn't see Him at the time. He is the constant reminder that there is a beautiful plan for my life that is all part of God's good and pleasing and perfect will.
My favorite verse in the Bible is Ecclesiasted 3:11. It says that "God has made everything beautiful in its time." That verse is true every day in my life and in my journey with the Lord.
So why am I going?
Sure, I want to see the world and meet some super awesome people. And yes, I'm ready for the challenge of living a life of abandoment. I want to say goodbye to the idea of the American dream.
But mainly, I'm going to show the least of these, the lost sheep, those who have never been loved, that God's love is the most beautiful and ever constant thing in the world. His grace and His mercy are sufficient and there is no better Father in the world.
I'm going on the World Race so that I can spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ. I'm going to help make disciples. To further God's kingdom. And to fall crazy in love with my creator more and more every day. To live a life of hopeless and reckless abandon, for this amazing guy named Jesus.
-J
