I got off the phone one day in Romania after a great conversation with an old friend. Even after the conversation, I was still laughing and smiling about some of the things that were said. Then… as the two girl teams joined for worship and prayer (as we do every morning), my happiness changed into sadness.
I realized in that moment. My friend, who I have long cared for, is going to Hell because he does not believe in Jesus. Most of my friends are atheist or agnostic and I have the hardest time grasping that these great people will one day not be with me in Heaven unless they start having faith. I never really allowed myself to think on these terms about my dear friends but now I have to. God is asking me to face these facts and it truly breaks my heart.
To non-Christians this has to sound harsh. Even to hear it from myself (a Christian), sounds ridiculous. However, this is how important the Gospel is to me; that I am willing to lay down my friends and family for it. I am willing to step on a few toes so that maybe one of these people can come to know Jesus. It is crazy at the beginning of the race I was not like this. I did not have the same passion for Jesus that I do now. My friends at home said before I left please do not come back being one of those " Christians", meaning do not come home being a legalistic, "religious" Christian.
Believe me, I will NOT come back home being a "religious" Christian because that is what turned me off to Christianity for most of my life… BUT I am going to come home with a faith for Jesus that is going to rock their worlds.
God is allowing me to change so I am just going to run with it.
Let every heart adore… Let every soul awake…
This is why God has brought me on this race. So that when I get home I can be a stronger light in a darker place.
