I’ve been surprised. Surprised at how popular 7-11’s are here in Phuket, Thailand (why hello there, Coke-a-Cola Slurpee), surprised at how many families I see walking the same street where hundreds of women are prostituted nightly, and surprised that such a geographically-beautiful area blatantly sells physical pleasure. I’ve also been surprised how conversations with the women in the bars begin: for the most part, it’s through games. Games like Connect Four and Jenga. But then there is another game: a nail is placed in a tree stump and the first person to hammer their nail all the way into the stump wins. The first time I played this game I was awakened to the fact that my hand-eye coordination is…um…well…not good (drums I can hit, nails I cannot. 🙂 ). But the second time through, the Lord gave me a thought; just like the game, it is our hands that nailed Christ to the cross. And on that cross, His blood bought us our salvation.
I don’t believe its coincidence this game is played in an area so desperate for Christ. The brokenness covering the island (and the world) is why Christ came. The woman who feels she is worthless and insignificant is why Christ came. The man who is seeped in loneliness is why Christ came. For every heart and every soul which is complete only through the Savior is why Christ came. Our sin placed Jesus on the cross but His love for us held Him there. And even in the darkest places in the world, Jesus reminds us of Who He is and why He has sent us: so the world will know.
