Fear.
People ask me if I'm scared.
And I say… "What is there to be afraid of?"
Scared because I'm an American?
Because the rest of the world hates Westerners?
I'll tell you, I'm a Christian first, and an American second.
"So, what about those people who hate Christians?" they ask.
What about them?
God didn't place me on this Earth to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs.
He's given me this gift of restlessness, this gift of an adventurous spirit.
I would even venture to say it would be a sin for me to stay and not go.
Tragedy happens overseas but you must see that it happens here too!
I'm not oblivious to the horror that happens to people in other parts of the world. But the whole world does NOT hate Christians or Americans. I promise I am not being naive.
I do realize something horrible could happen to me. Maybe the stakes are higher there but… maybe they're not.
Either way, I'm immortal until Gods will for me on this Earth is finished. And after His will is complete…praise the Lord I'll be headed home!
Now, I get that people here are worried.
There is more risk compared to reward for those who stay behind.
My supporters are trusting that I will be a good steward of their financial investment.
My family is holding their breath and praying that in the past 22 years I have truly learned how to fly.
My grandparents honestly don't know if they'll ever see me again.
There is a ton of risk in their eyes and the entire situation seems illogical and crazy.
They don't necessarily see the reward other than in brief snap shots taken from my camera.
They won't feel the love radiating from a child as you pick him up for the first hug of his life.
They won't experience the smile of the toothless gypsy as you hand her and her family new outfits for the coming winter.
They can read your stories of God's faithfulness and your defeats of fear and acts of valor and courage.
Still yet, those are merely snapshots of the life changing work God is doing through you first hand. We can only pray God will bless them through those few images.
All that to say I completely understand why you think I should be scared and why you think this is crazy.
I get it.
But my decision to follow Christ was not a onetime and done decision.
I chose this life. We go out with nothing but this gift of hope to share with the world. I did not ask Jesus to live in my heart for me to simply hide Him away and keep Him to myself. I chose to be obedient to the life He would ask me to live. I’m choosing to walk this road and I know full and well the implications of my choice.
I know the Man who has gone before me, and if you stop at the cross and look up as He hangs dying for you, I can fully understand why you would be scared. But Christ’s story doesn’t end at the cross and neither will mine. There is a resurrection and a hope that the world NEEDS to hear about. A hope the world groans and hungers for.
“So why do I have to go overseas?” They say.
I don't.
I can stay right here and do exactly what I'll be doing there. And up until the day I leave I'll be in my neighborhoods sharing Christ. But with so many resources, churches, and Christians who are settled here and tied down with commitments, I'm leaving this work to you!
At this point in my life, I'm the perfect candidate to go. I have no commitments, no ties, and a willing heart. I'm not scared and I can't wait to live among the least of these and fight this spiritual war on the frontlines on foreign ground. I'm not saying I'm ready or best equipped. But I'm willing.
I can't give you any better reason than that.
Until Christ returns were all guaranteed to die. What an honor to say I died while fighting the good fight. Don't discourage me because this is "risky."
Pray for me that much more.
I heard once that we've all been inches or seconds from death many times. Some of those times we’ve known about but many we’ll never know of.
Safety does not depend on your surroundings.
I challenge you to read Psalm 139.
Now, live fearless and confident until the Day of the Lord.
