One of my favorite elders, is John Piper. If there is one man who has taught me what it means to follow the Lord, and how we can do that, it is him. I would give anything to meet him personally, for his teachings have made a heavy impact on my faith, but for now I will quote him before I say much more. The first book that I read of his, was "Desiring God". And one thing that he says is, "Ultimately, all the good inclinations or preferences or desires that we have are given by the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Spirit we are mere flesh. And Paul said in Romans 7:18, "I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing." Apart from the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, none of our inclinations or desires is holy or good, "for the mind of the flesh is hostile to God's law and does not submit to it because it cannot" (Romans 8:7)."
I can remember sitting at the Campus Outreach conference in Orlando, Florida, and hearing about the World Race. There were some people from AIM (Adventures in Missions) there speaking on who they were and what their vision was. I was not too fond of the idea, and I can remember saying, "That seems pretty cool, I guess. I mean, I couldn't do it. But I salute those who do." I think the scariest thought was leaving behind my friends and my family. I didn't want to leave America to go to countries such as the ones in which they travel to, because I knew that some of them were poverty stricken, had an intolerant heart for Christianity, and not to mention really gross food. I like food. And the most important thing that I need to point out, is that I had yet to be regenerated. Or saved. Whatever title you have for it, I was not a believer, a follower or one that God had yet to change. My heart, was about me. My heart, was about my desires. My heart, was about my friends. My heart, was about my family. My heart, was about having fun. My heart, was about success. My heart, was simply made of flesh. But our hearts ARE still made of flesh, right? Right, however; Ezekiel 36:26 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
What I am getting at, is that aside from God transforming my heart, I would not have finally set aside the time to apply for the World Race. I would have not have anticipated every interview phone call that had been set up. I would not have had teary eyes and a cheesy smile once receiving the acceptance phone call. I would have never, aside from God, ever felt the desiring pull to go on this trip.
So how was I led to the World Race?
I was led to the World Race because it is God's desire for his children to be his disciples. He changes hearts. He breathes the Holy Spirit into the lives of sinners. He manifests throughout the nations. He is in control. He is the All-Knowing, Powerful, Unstoppable God and Creator of this universe. But he CHOOSES to allow his elect to go out into the nations and bring the Gospel to them.
Once I felt the calling, I said, "I'll go".
