Disclaimer:
Before reading the rest of this blog I want you to know that my team and I are living in a house in a gated community this month. You have to enter two guarded gates before you can arrive at our home. Our safety has been a huge priority, and we are taking it seriously.
Before landing on the field, someone shared an incredible piece of insight with me about the World Race. “Every community you visit will have a different spiritual struggle. You will literally be able to feel the shift in atmosphere as you travel from place to place”. I know exactly what she is talking about. It’s scary how Satan is so keenly aware of what will be most effective in pulling us away from God.
In some places this looks like DOUBT. Satan wants you to doubt that God is actually good, that he is actually loving. He wants you to doubt that he is still working for your good. He wants you to doubt that your salvation is secure. He tells you that you have to work harder for God to love you. He tells you that you don’t really have a relationship with God. He tells you that God doesn’t care about you. That he doesn’t notice you. He makes you question that God even exists at all – amidst the countless miracles that you’ve seen.
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:24-29
In some places the attack is POVERTY. There is a heaviness because you don’t believe that God will provide for your next meal. There is jealousy of wealth and the illusion that it will bring the fulfillment you seek. There is cronic sickness and diease from the harsh conditions that are the reality of your life. There is low self esteem because you can’t possible provide for your five children, especially when dad abandoned the family. There are chains of poor education, bad spending habits, and sin that render you feeling helpless to seek a better life.
Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Matthew 6:20-23
Sometimes it’s our own pride in INTELLECT. You think you have it all figured out. You know exactly why the world turns the way it does. Cause and effect, action and reaction, chemistry, and physics. You think you know everything you could possible need to know about God. You would never admit it, but God is easy for you because he fits perfectly in the box that you’ve constructed for Him. You’re spiritual, connected with nature and life. The purpose of life is to seek and make your own purpose. You’re important because you sit on the edge of technology. Future generations will have you to thank for their daily comforts and the wealth of knowledge you’ve contributed to mankind.
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 1:19-20
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,so that no one may boast before him.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
Somtimes it is SPIRITUAL. Believing in a spiritual realm was never a problem for you, or anyone around you. You’ve had extensive supernatural experiences and you are fully aware that they are real. Satan attacks you there. Your dreams are invaded by the demonic. Demons physically manifest themselves in your presence. Family or friends have actually been possessed. Your grandmother knows how to “read the cards” and her words always come to pass. Witch doctors tell you things about your life that they couldn’t have possibly known.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:17-20
Satan works differently everywhere through anger, lust, greed, disobedience, complacency, violence, depression, busyness, vanity, etc.
Here in Honduras, one of the ways he’s working is through FEAR. This is the murder capital of the world. The gangs are extremely violent and ruthless, and they’re out of control. In the capital, people do not walk the streets on certain days of the week. Buses pay off the gangs daily so that their passengers won’t be harmed. One of the most prevalent gangs here is La Mara, or MS-13. Google it if you care to know more about them.
I trust God to be my protector. I trust the Spirit to tell me when a situation is getting too dangerous. Yet, not even Paul was privied to preach the Gospel without persecution. Quite the contrary, he was stoned and left for dead, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and abused. Jesus promised these things. During this season of life God is exposing me to these realities. The Race is suddenly becoming less of an adventure. This is real life, and the dangers are very real too – very, very, real. We all like to thing that we would be willing to follow Jesus to the grave if that’s what he called us to do. However, I’m feeling a little more like Peter right now who proclaimed that he would never deny Christ, even if it meant death; hours later, as Jesus stood accused, he denied any and all association with Him.
Here are some of the thoughts that have crossed my mind as I’ve been walking the streets:
I’ve spent too much of my time, my life, and my money getting a master’s degree to have something bad happen to me here, especially in the name of ‘adventure’ when I could just as easily follow Jesus in the US.
LIES
My parents spent too much money on my braces to have a tooth knocked out if someone tried to rob me.
LIES
It would be better for God to use someone else. They would know the culture better. They would speak the language better. There would be less of a chance of them getting kidnapped, because they don’t come from a family that has so many resources. Their parents didn’t spend lots of money on their braces. It probably wouldn’t even bother them if they lost a tooth.
LIES
It’s scary that these are actually thoughts that I’ve had this past week. Where is the humility in that? I don’t spend every moment of my day focused on the danger. Actually, I hardly think about it at all. But, it only takes one sketchy encounter to jump start the thoughts all over again. It’s important to recognize the lies for what they are. They’re not from God. In Honduras, fear is palpable. What does it look like where you are?
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:6-11
