I just realized I left my final two pages of my World Race journal blank, having every attempt to go back and for two pages finally in my final thoughts a month later about the trip. But I never did. And maybe in some rightful way it’s how it should be, I mean is there really a final curtain call?
A year ago today I left, a year ago today I left all that I knew and in the risk of God’s call I dove in. Is following God’s call really a risk though? How is it a risk when you’re in the hands of the Creator of the stars that blanket the sky on a dark night? God is the ultimate life-giver and adventurer, but the more I think He’s not the “ultimate risk” caller. What’s risky about leaving everything and in pure faith going where He calls? My God stays the same, does not change, and loves me. Is there really a risky Christian life to God when Paul says that “we are sure of what we hope for”?
Maybe the greatest risk is the unwillingness to abandon, change, or seriously take the call of Jesus upon ourselves. That’s risk; call if shifting sand, and on that leads to destruction. In my flesh, the world, and even some of the church idealism trusting God with everything, or loving AIDS victims, orphans, going to the ghetto, speaking life and love to a prostitute, stopping to help a drunk or homeless guy is seen as a risk and some won’t even dare move an inch for love afraid of the foot of criticism that might come back from others that just don’t “get it”; or don’t feel like it right now mentality. Glad Jesus didn’t make excuses for us on the cross; for we are no different. The risk is the “not too” for there we encounter Matthew 25:31-46 head on.
And so I left the last two pages blank….because no matter how many people will say “what an experience”, I want to say, “No, it’s a life.” For it does not end, it’s only the continual shaping of what expectations I had before that needed to be broken about what this Christian life really means and what incredible greatness realities there are of a God I barely tap into.
They will stay blank, because a summary of what God did doesn’t finish until I cross the shores of that sea into eternity; seeing Him face to face. And I pray, hope, that God will write those two pages. It’s a new year, a new season, but frankly the calling has never changed. It’s no different, the battle stays, to make much of Him and show the enemy that He has no authority. So whether that’s Lexington, Georgia, Louisville, Uganda, Philippines, or China I want to make the Lord known for people to see this great thing we call faith as the most surest of all things in this world. I cannot avoid the dark places; for light is needed. What about those who starve, thirst, have no hope, stuck in wealth, pride, lust, depression, insecurities; shall I turn a deaf ear? There is inside of me a responsibility, to lose myself in order to find it. To give to others so they can see Him, to know that the riskiest thing in life is to rely on ourselves, security in money and comfort, over the radical call to follow Him with the audacity to think you can’t handle it God? And should this be very normal for us believers?
If God is for me then who can be against me? May your heart for the nations be stronger than my flesh of desire and may I love people more than me. Trust, the main word I learned this year. This time I trust You, rich or poor, home or shack, food or none, future or not, death or life, sickness or health. You are there, You have always been there for me; for us.
To be blessed is only a virtue when you bless others back, so may this movement be yours to be free, to love deeply, give unreservedly, be at awe continuously and when we die all that matter is, “Their lives were better from you and all glory goes to Him, the surest thing there is.”
