A friend called and said she cannot stay back in Malaysia any longer. She came back 3 months ago and she has to go back to the mission field. I asked her why, she said there's nothing to do here. I hope that's not an excuse why she wants to leave Malaysia. I hope there's really a lot to be done in the mission field and that without her, things won't move on. Oh wait, is that the case? God needs us to fulfil His plan and works He leads you to begin? Of course not. God doesn't need us. We do because we love Him and we wanted to serve Him. Jesus did what He was asked and fulfilled it because He loves God and also people on earth, that's you and me. He didn't do it because God needs Him.
Another friend posted on FB recently and she finally back to her mission field and she happily shared how happy she is to be back, like fish finally being released into the sea/pond. Oh well, again, it kept me thinking, is it because it is so good to be able to get out from the lockdown and pandemic situation to a place with less restrictions or is it because it is really because of serving God. I had a conversation with a young full time worker and through her sharing of what she learned in the past few months, if not weeks, I realised, we talked about this issue again, about whether we are working for God or we are serving Him. I am glad she realised this and even learned this great lesson and keep her focus right, even in her early ministry. What surprised me was that she also told me, missionaries are supposed to go there, train and raise the locals and come back. That's right.
A failed mission is like what the US and UK did to Afgan. 20 years of battles in the field, sending so many soldiers over and yet, once they leave, everything is just back to normal. I looked at the timelines and the events and even pictures, my first thought was, "without a fight?" Oh well, then it is bound to be taken over. When we reached out to people and they said they wanted to know more about Christ, we don't just hand them a bible and leave. We have to teach them how to read, we need to teach them how to interpret, we need to teach them how to be close to God, how to establish that relationship with God, and let them even know how to apply the words of God in their life before we leave. 20 years, if they can't even pick up a gun or know where to find one or how to fight themselves, it's useless. The mission has failed, completely.
It is a reminder of how strong the evil stronghold is and how easy it can just take charge of everything if we are not ready to put our feet down and fight back. There's many time in our lives that we have to make that move instead of just relying on someone to help us with. Spiritual journey likewise. This has set as a reminder to me spiritually of how much we need to get ourselves ready and not take things for granted. Are you ready to fight. During this pandemic, I saw many people are still in complacent moods. Some still thinking to earn the whole world and others still trying to gain power and others. Some even think the future is bright and sunny because they just got married and some just achieved A++ in their A level exam and some just graduated with 1st class degree and some got their first book published and others got their doctoral degree, and they think the world should celebrate because of their success and they are over the moon thinking their life is full of bright future. But all these will be gone in a minute if God doesn't extend His grace for you. All these will go and can you hang in to God and still praise Him? Can you still say, thank you Lord for a bright future? or are you going to now beg God for mercy and grace? or are you going to ask God, why He is being cruel and let you suffer?
The truth is, there's nothing that will last forever. But we need to learn to enjoy His presence and the relationship we have with Him no matter if you see with your naked eyes how bright or gloomy your future is because it doesn't matter. What matter is, in whatever situation, you know He is right there for you because He loves you.
When things go really well with you, praise God for letting you have that opportunity to enjoy happiness, success and achievement. Without Him extending that grace to you, you might not have it. Don't ever think that all your happiness, success and achievements are the fruits of your own ability and wisdom. It is not. When things go less well, and you are suffering, enjoy it because that's the moment you get close to God and trying to know what He was trying to do in your life. It is these moments that one will get to know God and His heart better, in many ways and that one day when you finally get what you want, you know it is all because God loves you and nothing else. Suffering will eventually cause people to understand death is nothing because Jesus has redeemed our sins from us. Suffering and pain eventually made us want God even more and without suffering, God could be just a tool. Without suffering, people think they do not need God. So, no matter in which stage you are at, keep in mind that, God loves you and you can come close to Him a little bit more. Do not lose your focus. Focus on Him. Your God, Your sovereign God.
Do not fail your mission.
- Failed Mission? -
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