Over the years I have been asked several times, “What do you do in missions?” Now, I understand why most would ask a question of that nature because on the surface I do not have a lot going for me and you could compare me with the uneducated and common men talked about in the book of Acts chapter four verse thirteen. Uneducated and common but like Peter and John I have been with Jesus.
When a man or woman hangs out with Jesus and the 12 disciples you cannot help but hear Jesus say; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Janie and I have found ourselves doing just that over the years, those early years we were parachuted in so to speak and lived in some wild places along with others as we moved to reach the unreached with the gospel message. Now that time has turned the pages and our youth is nothing more than a dream, old age has found me, what now?
Like Jeremiah of old, “There is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones and I am weary with holding it in and I cannot.” The church today enjoys trips to different places with special teachers and pastors to learn all about Jesus and the places He walked. But, we are reluctant to go into all the world with Jesus the one we call Lord, the One that said go and I will go with you. What can be better than that?
So, Jack, what do you do in missions? Because there is such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me I will lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets me and run with endurance the race that is set before me. Go ye, will forever be what I preach to the end of the age and finding faithful men that can teach others will be my goal until every unreached language group has been told the gospel message.
When a man or woman sees the call to go in the context of Matthew 28 and really sees the One that commands us to go, that life will be changed forever. Home and friends and all will be laid aside as we take on the challenge to lift up the name of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
Janie and I are so thankful for each of you that have been so faithful to stand with us as we continue to serve Him even in our older years. We have overseas trips planned this year and several places we need to visit as we look for faithful men to move into the regions beyond with the gospel message. I still have a heart for this great work so please keep us in your prayers. Jack