God is Fulfilling His Plan to Make Himself Known!
by Becky Stephen, Director of InterVarsity LinkWhen thirteenth century philosopher and missionary, Ramon Lull, founded a college of Arabic study in Spain.
When InterVarsity/USA was founded by the cross-cultural efforts of Canadians and British students.
When Emperor Charlemagne bowed to Jesus and commanded all the people of France to be baptized.
When the Berlin wall fell and the Ukrainian student movement was midwifed by American InterVarsity staff.
God was fulfilling His plan to make Himself known.
While Paul was in chains for preaching the gospel.
While Christians are being enslaved in Sudan.
While Hebrew mothers wept as their infants were being slaughtered in Egypt.
While every one of the 60 leaders of the 60 Rwandan IFES student groups were wiped out in the tribal genocide.
While Bosnia, Iraq, and Palestine were carved out of the Ottoman empire.
While people like Hitler, Amin, Pol Pot and Stalin call whole groups of people to do unspeakable things to other peoples.
While governments and people plotted the betrayal and lynching of Jesus.
While political powers call on God to validate their actions.
While planes which carried those headed for both heaven and for hell slammed into the World Trade Center.
God was and is fulfilling His plan to make Himself known.
From the beginning of time God’s purpose has been to get His due at all times from all peoples everywhere. God’s plan has very little, if anything, to do with our personal, corporate or national safety.
This is not to say that God doesn’t care about His children.
This is not to say that God does not take care of His children.
But God’s response to evil in the world is so different from ours.
These days it's easy for American Christians to question their calling to missions. Parents and adult children of missionaries, too, have concerns, urging their family members to come home from mission fields that are now news headlines. Conscientious co-workers appropriately questioned me about crisis management policies and plans. My own response on Sept. 11 was to question God’s future for InterVarsity Link and for world missions.
But in the midst of war, in the midst of fear, concerns and questions, God calls me to Scripture. He shows me that his response to the unpredictable and the out of control is Hebrews 11.
Evil is not news. Evil people have done evil things to others in every age, in every place, for any reason. In the US most of us have been sheltered from a certain kind of evil. And that’s led us to believe that we’re fundamentally different, fundamentally secure. And that safety is our right – our Divine right! But that’s not fundamentally true. What is true is that God is still good, powerful and purposeful. Whether circumstances are good or bad, God’s character, His ways and His purposes do not change. God is still working all over the world to make Himself known through His people, His Word and His Spirit.
God will continue to call people to leave their homes and live as strangers in a foreign country – trusting Him to fulfill His promises to them.
God will continue to call people to put to death their human hopes for the future because they hope in Him.
God will continue to call people to face poverty, persecution, prison. To face their own weaknesses, to persevere when nothing’s visibly happening. Even to face death. Not because these things are good. Not because these things save us. Not because risk is to be commended or because bravery is a good trait to have. But because God makes Himself known in both death and resurrection, in suffering as well as salvation. In triumph and trial.
Suffering for its own sake is not a calling, just as safety is not a right. But God calls us to trust Him enough to obey Him – no matter what the cost or the visible outcome. If we are kept safe for now – rejoice. If we are not – our response, by faith, is to be the same.
That’s why InterVarsity is still going to be calling people to God’s purposes. For me and the rest of the missions team, one of the scary things we are to do by faith is to continue to enable those who’ve heard God’s call to follow Jesus into the world – wherever He tells them to go.
This word of Hebrews 11 is not just for missionaries, as if they are some special breed. But this word is for all of us who want God’s commendation.
In Hebrews 12 we are told,
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God has marked out a course for You.
Is there something He's calling you to nowadays that's scary or hard? And you're not sure you want to go there? What's hindering you from responding in faith? Is it some sin? Some person? Some mistaken belief? Some fear? Some desire?
God promises that if we toss off sin, fear, lies, and our own agenda and get our eyes on Jesus, He will give us faith and enable us to live by faith. Then, with all our brothers and sisters throughout time and space, He will commend us and we will get everything He’s promised to His people from the beginning. Not safety, but security in His love. Not freedom from suffering, but his comfort in suffering. Not escape from death, but the assurance of resurrection. Today, what will we do – by faith – trusting in God’s unchanging purpose and character?
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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