This morning I’m leaving to drive down to Georgia for training camp. I’ve made a similar trip a few years back to Colorado, but this is the farthest I’ve ever gone on my own. I have to say I’m mostly excited, but experience has taught me that my excitement is largely a factor of my own ignorance, and even this small road trip will be not nearly as simple as I imagine. Fortunately I have God to lean on for support and guidance, and He’s better than any AAA or OnStar rep so even if things go crazy I know things will somehow work out. I’m packed up and ready to take the first step out my door on the adventure of a lifetime!
It’s important that I not lose focus, though. As fun as it is to travel and camp out and meet tons of exciting new friends, the end goal of this camp is preparing for the real trip in just a few short months. It sounds fun to say you’re going to travel around the world but it’s misleading to leave out the missions focus of the trip. We’re not traveling to explore tropical countries or to snap photos at landmarks and come home unchanged except for a few touristy keychains – we’re Racing to save the lost souls of this world before it’s too late. The Supertones put it best, I think: “Is time running out? I don’t know. I can say we have one day less than we did yesterday.” No matter what hour God has chosen to bring His kingdom to Earth, every day we spend not urgently sharing the great news of salvation is a day lost, and maybe a soul lost too. Our mission is urgent and our focus must be intense – there’s no question that we will have immense amounts of fun as we work, but all earthly concerns take a back seat when we consider the enormity of the task God has set before us: to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
Considering that brings to mind the story of Simeon. Simeon’s a rather common name in the Bible, but the one I’m thinking of appears in Luke 2:25-35. We know practically nothing about this Simeon, but what we do know marks him as one of only a few people so mentioned in the Bible. Simeon was both righteous and devout, and he had so impressed God with his patient waiting for the promised Messiah that God Himself promised Simeon he would not die before he saw the Christ. There are precious few people throughout the Bible that God makes direct promises to so clearly this was a man who had soundly impressed God. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon encounters Jesus when Mary and Joseph bring him to the temple in Jerusalem for his circumcision. Simeon immediately recognizes Jesus as the promised Messiah and praises God for fulfilling His promise. The words Simeon uses are particularly relevant to the Race, I think. A large portion of Jews were waiting for the Messiah to come as a political leader, to free Israel from Roman control, and even Jesus’ closest 12 disciples were often confused about His real mission. Simeon however praised God for allowing him to see Jesus before his death, saying “…my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Simeon saw in an 8-day old baby the wonderful promise of God to bring salvation to all people – even the oppressive and hated Romans. It’s easy to want to believe that God offers salvation only to the people we like, or those who already lead a good life and are easy to get along with. Jesus reminds us that “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). As eager as we are to bring our friends to share in the glories of Heaven, it is no less important that the people we don’t like, the coworkers we don’t get along with, the bullies and the jerks all are presented with the gospel of Christ. We may meet many people on the Race that we don’t understand, or that we for whatever reason don’t like. Nobody’s perfect, and the cultural differences may magnify even small flaws to make us truly irritated with some of the people we encounter. It is important to remember that God is gladly extending His offer of eternal life to everyone we meet, and the mission of eternity needs to supersede any petty dislikes we may have.
As I leave for training camp, please
PRAY:
-that I would have the heart of Simeon to accept everyone I meet as a soul in need of Heaven
-that God would prepare the racers at camp to fulfill His commission throughout the world
-for safety as the racers travel to camp
-for many more people to be willing to join in this adventure with me financially
PRAISE:
-that God has already been faithful to provide financial support from unexpected quarters
-that God has raised up so many young people willing to dedicate a year of their lives to the work of the Kingdom
-that God’s gift remains as amazing today as it did for Simeon
God bless you all, and I’ll see you racers at camp!
-Don
