Two days ago, I experienced one of those moments that truly stopped me in my tracks. Not necessarily in a physical manner, but more so from a life philosophical standpoint, which in turn has catalyzed a lot of reflection on what’s driving me.
That morning while I was reading in the word, I felt the Holy Spirit really slowing me down to absorb Romans 15:18-21. (For brief context…Paul, the Apostle wrote this letter to Christian believers in 57 A.D.) It reads,
‘For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring Gentiles to obedience- by word of the Spirit of God- so that from Jerusalem and all the way around Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”‘
To be painfully honest my first thought was, you’ve got to be kidding me. I thought God might be telling me the next destination on my journey will be coming back on the mission field to evangelize. In my heart I know that if that would truly be His plan, I would eventually be fueled by that desire. But in the moment, that really did not align with what I was hoping to happen in the next couple of years. Despite that internal conversation, I laid it back down in prayer, and asked with thanksgiving that God would just lead me today.
Shortly after, a group of us headed out with a translator to go on home visits. We ventured down a path in a direction that we hadn’t gone before, eventually leading us to a small snack stand. This was run by a 75 year-old woman, named Mon. She was very welcoming and invited us to come and sit with her. Some of the girls asked her questions about her life and after a few minutes we learned that she was pretty lonely and very fearful of death. She shared that she was technically Buddhist because of family and societal influence, but did not practice. Someone asked if she had ever heard of Jesus before. Most people who are practicing Buddhism know a lot about Jesus, they just don’t believe that He is their savior. My heart sank when she said no. Deep in my soul I knew that God was wanting me to speak. This was what the scripture was promoting me in this morning. When no one stepped forward, I took a bible and said, ‘Ok, Holy Spirit I need some help.’
I have shared pieces of the gospel many times in different parts of the world. I actually really enjoy it. But I have never started from scratch, with zero prior knowledge. So the first thing that popped in my mind was literally Genesis I. God created Mon, and I believe He has been pursing her for the last 75 years. He knew the words she needed to hear, the verses that would give depth to her salvation. It was truly an experience of spiritual surrender. The main point that I kept coming back to was why she didn’t have to fear death, or really anything of that matter.
Back at the beginning of creation, the earth embodied the same luxuries of heaven. But because of the ability for man to choose right or wrong, sin was born. There is pain and brokenness. Unexplainable circumstances and loneliness. But through Jesus, we have access to God, who gives us all the strength to counteract our weakness’, and better yet, an eternity of perfection and paradise.
Mon was very receptive. I have no idea what Jesus was able to do with that experience but I believe and am continuing to thank God for her salvation before her earthly life ends. I don’t remember every word, but I’ll never forget that feeling I left with. How blessed am I to be in that exact place at that exact time. To know God so intimately, and have the ability to be a co-laborer with Him to bring kingdom to earth.
Every day I am struck with fleshly desires and the want for control. But by the power of grace, I am reminded time and time again that there really is nothing more important on this earth than living in submission to my creator.
Here is a photo that I just received from one of my girls on Tuesday. Please join me in praying for sweet, Mon.
