GOD’S PLAN TO REACH THE WORLD!
Simple … or complicated? Well,
it’s much simpler for us when He uses us – than it was for Him when He sent His
Son to die for a world lost in sin.
There is no comparison at all – not even one tiny iota of
similarity. God did His part, as did
Jesus – a very long time ago. They gave
their all! Now we get to be a part of
His plan to reach the world. And what do
we do? What part of us do we
give? In most scenarios, whatever we do,
we tend to make His outreach plan way too difficult! It should be as natural as breathing. It should be as enjoyable as eating. And it should be as comfortable as sharing the
most exciting news ever … with whoever will listen! God has always had a plan to reach the
world. That has never changed. It’s just that the world has changed. Immensely! Our world is not the world our parents
knew. And our children’s world is
definitely not the world we knew. And
their children now know a world that is literally spinning out of control with
an overdose of violence, hatred, and warped values. More children than we can imagine have never
experienced real love in any of their relationships – be it from parents or
peers. Living on bare essentials and
survival of the fittest – has become the name of the game. Pretty dark picture of this old world that
I’m painting, right? But it doesn’t have
to be that way … for that’s where Jesus comes in! Remember where you were at the exact moments
the Twin Towers were collapsing thirteen years ago on the 11th of
this month? It was a dark, dark day in
our nation and around the world. But out
of the ashes emerged the light of God’s love.
Rescuers acted with heroic love in action. Many in the rubble found themselves spared –
some by divine, supernatural miracles from the hand of God. There was no other explanation. Remember the cross of shattered metal beams
that stood out tall above every other piece of mangled iron in the debris and
the dust? It was a beautiful symbol of
Light piercing through the sad haze of terrorism, destruction and death. At times like this, all that gives mankind
the ability to continue on is the hope that Christ brings. And that day, hope took shape in the form of
a cross unlike any other we’d ever seen.
No, it wasn’t wooden. And no, it
wasn’t beautiful and new. But it gave
hope that day as it emerged out of hopelessness and despair and grief. We had never seen broken, twisted metal look
so beautiful and strong. But that day –
it did. What the enemy of our souls and
the enemies of our land intended for harm, God used for good! Our nation and people united with one heart
and engaged in survival and rescue mode.
Our nation and people turned their hearts to God and filled the churches
– many that had been nearly empty before 9/11.
America wept and prayed.
Americans drew from deep within and forgot about political
correctness. We became a team united to
rescue the perishing and help those in need.
Nothing else mattered. We had a
mission and we were one in spirit. How
said that it takes such tragedy for us to “see” the hurting and the dying. Elevation North has such a mission today –
because there are 9/11’s happening all around us. Next door.
Overseas. Down the street. At our jobs.
In our churches. Satan is ramping
up the level of his terrorism – attacking the believers and lulling the sinners
into a false sense of security. Where,
oh where are those who will put on the armor of God and plunge into the
darkness and danger … and rescue the perishing?
Oh we see some of you! We see
your willingness to sacrifice of your time and possessions to bring hope to
those without hope. We see you using
your gifts to reach out to those who still have an open heart. We see you stepping out into the darkness and
shining your light – the Light of the world that lives in you. We see – and we are inspired and
blessed. Because we know that it is
going to take each of us – ALL of us - uniting in the mission to make each day
a rescue operation – right where we live.
And beyond … if that’s what God calls us to. It’s time to quit peeking carefully and
safely through our windows at the mass of lost humanity. It is time, dear people of God, to dress up
in our God-given armor and run towards the crumbled, burning rubble of lost
souls searching for something real. It’s
time to bring the Light to those who are trapped beneath the crushing load of
sin and heading to the smoking inferno of Hell.
Don’t YOU want to be a part of God’s rescue team? You are needed today more than ever before in
the history of our world. Please get
prepared and ready to head out wherever God calls you to go! And whatever you do … do it all in love …
Christ’s love. Anything less will leave
you trapped in the rubble with the lost.
God has more for us – and for them … if we will just set aside our
reserved ways and allow God’s ways to be unleashed in us – and through us! Watch out, world! Rescuers are on the way!!!
REMEMBER . .
.
“For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosover
believes in Him shall not perish,
but have
everlasting life!”
John 3:16
Joyfully Serving Christ . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
