This blog was inspired by my first shower outside under the stars in the jungle of Perú.
I’ve heard way too many times a heart of pity from those who have returned to the US from doing missions.
Too many times I’ve heard comments about “You won’t believe how they live” or “We’re so blessed with all that we have here”.
Don’t get me wrong. We should have a grateful heart for all the good gifts that come down from the Father of lights. But who are we to call our gifts better than another’s?
What I find are citizens of the US associating air conditioning, indoor plumbing, big houses, WiFi, electronics, and a lot of other material things with quality of life. In fact many people have begun looking at these things as basic necessities of life. My point of this blog isn’t so that you never enjoy or appreciate these blessings (not necessities), but rather it’s that you see the blessings of another’s life.
I want to challenge your way of thinking for a moment, and I ask that you will follow me the rest of this blog with an open mind.
Consider that those things that we all hold close to our hearts in the US are man made things.
But here in the amazon people live a lot closer to God made things.
All around and so incorporated into life is nature. The expression of God more overwhelming than the expression of man. Everything seems to be more natural, more of the way God created it to be. Things are less manipulated by man. So with the clarity of God’s creation and a window into Eden, the things not of God stick out very blatantly; such as unclean waters and rivers as the consequences of man’s sin.
When I look out upon the Amazon I see something seemingly simple, but underneath the canopies, behind the mountains, and up in the villages also something incredibly intricate.
So not only does the amazon remind me of how God intended the World to be, but how I was intended to be.
I’ve come on this Race as a blank slate, something simple… and ready for the Lord to peel back the layers and reveal to me the intricacies of all of who He says I am.
I am nothing apart from Him, but because of Him, He is where my identity is. He’s made me something intricate, He’s created a spiritual DNA with specific convictions, desires, passions, and personality characteristics to bring Him glory and to bring me good.
If creation flawlessly knows it’s maker and constantly points to Him, why would we not want it to be our teacher. Why would we not learn from it, embrace it, preserve it. As Romans 1:20 says, God’s creation reveals His eternal power and His divine nature so clearly. Because of this no man is with an excuse for not seeking Him. May we also learn and strive to display this clearly. When we come to Him and understand who He is that’s one thing, but until we believe and rest in who He says we are, we will never display to the world that He is Lord.
If the seas know their job is to roar, the rivers to clap their hands, and the hills to sing for joy (Psalm 98)… If birds do not work to grow food because they know that God will provide, and if the lilies do not try to dress them self in beautiful clothing and jewelry because they know their beauty (Matthew 6)…. If the seas obey his command to be still (Matthew 8) or move where He directs them (Exodus 14)…
Then I believe we should take heed to their example, and preserve them as our teachers that the Lord has put in place.
