On the World Race there are countless opportunities to experience culture, see God’s creation and have once and a lifetime experiences.
However, Thailand is one of the largest tourism areas in the world and over 26 million tourists go there every year. Some of the most popular things to do here are getting tattoos, buying prostitutes and riding elephants.
Knowing that we were entering a country known for tourisms, it made me rethink certain things I would do. I didn’t want to appear to be just another tourist coming in their country to take advantage of easily accessible and inexpensive desires.
Why did I come to Thailand?
I came to be different than the 26 million…I came to be like one, named Jesus. Thailand doesn’t need more tourism, it needs more people who have been with Jesus; people who are willing to die to themselves and be attentive to the leading of His Spirit. If being Jesus to someone means forsaking popular tourism activities then I will gladly forsake them in order that they may see Jesus. Not partaking in those activities wasn’t because I thought them sinful or less glorifying to God (excluding prostitution), I just knew that God had given me a conviction to be different, not only in the way I behave but also in the things that I chose to spend my time doing. And so being in this place I chose to not do what everyone else was doing in hopes to be a beacon of light and of hope.
That being said, I do not believe that I have missed out on experiencing culture, seeing God’s creation nor having once and a lifetime experiences. I have had the privilege of doing many things that include one or more of these things…
Such as:
-Having lunch with a complete stranger from California and being a blessing to him.
-Going out golfing for the first time with my ministry contact and gleaning from his wisdom on ministry and life.
-Camping in the jungle on the tallest mountain in Thailand and watching the sunrise over the city.
-Spending time with children with AIDs and seeing God redeem their lives from this sickness.
-Sharing my story to a group of young guys of how God redeemed my life from my sin.
And many, many more.
I Went To Thailand & I Didn’t Get A Tattoo, A Prostitute Or An Elephant
God taught me that I need stop trying to be like everyone else and doing what everyone else is doing just because it is the thing to do but to be different because Jesus is different. He taught me to really seek what He is doing and to see His strength and faithfulness in the “small things”. God didn’t call me to be a tourist…He called me to be a missionary, and that is the greatest calling, to be an ambassadors of the King of Kings. And so I will gladly put aside popular attraction for the furthering of the gospel. The life He offers is far better than any attraction could ever offer.
Be different.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
