jeffersonvann

India journal–disappointments

It is an old, abandoned, run-down building, meant for greater things, but neglected and discarded. It illustrates the depth of the disappointment I felt yesterday. Not all the news on the field is going to be good news. We all know that, but it is still discouraging when we discover that things have not all turned out right. Missions work involves people, and people (even church leaders) sometimes disappoint you. When that disappointment also means shame upon God’s name and his kingdom, it hurts all the worse.

Some of the disappointments we feel are due to clear attacks of the enemy. For example, two of the ministries we heard from yesterday are being seriously compromised by new government regulations. One couple had to abandon their dream to work as foreign missionaries because the target country will not allow it. They still hope to go some day, but we cannot send them. Another ministry has literally saved the lives of almost 200 babies, condemned to be sacrificed to a village’s goddess. Now, the government is telling the ministry’s leader that he must pay a large fee for each child he has rescued. The angels weep.

Many of the men and women we talked to yesterday were suffering from serious setbacks, and had all kinds of problems. It was hard not to be discouraged along with them. In the end, all we could do was pray with them, and promise to share their stories with others who can also pray. We wished we could solve their problems. But today is a new day. Those same courageous men and women are going back to work, determined to serve the LORD in spite of the disappointments they face. They are heroes of the faith. The world is not worthy of them.

India journal–parental love

I was sharing with a group of pastors this morning. These men (and one lady) live in a different world from me. I wanted to be an encouragement to them, and to let them know that people are praying for them, and want to know more about them so that they can pray. But I did not know how to connect with them. I spoke of a young mother in Georgia (for example). I described how she has very little money, and very little time, but she wants to spend some of that time praying for them.

I asked them if they were parents, and most raised their hands confirming that they were. I told them that parenthood is an opportunity that God gives us to display his kind of love – a selfless, sacrificing love, where the needs of children are put before those of the parents. I shared from John 15:17 that Jesus commands us to have that kind of love for each other. I could tell from their eyes that the message was getting through. It is a challenge to love people like that, but that is what Jesus wants of us.

Later this afternoon, Ernie and I got to see God’s kind of love demonstrated to kids who had no parents. We visited the Shelter Trust orphanage where over 30 young children are cared for. These kids have lost their parents to AIDS, and are HIV positive themselves. Solomon, the manager of Shelter Trust says that the team of workers seek to provide these children with three things: love, laughter, and life.

The success can be seen in the smiles of these wonderful kids, and their drive to succeed in whatever they do. These kids are living the miracle of a life with a purpose. They are not letting their problems keep them from enjoying life, and that joy is actually prolonging their lives. Solomon shared that one of the needs of Shelter Trust is a new place to house their older boys, who, at age 17 will no longer be allowed by the Indian government to live with the other orphans. When Shelter Trust originally began the orphanage, they didn’t imagine that any of the children would live that long. Now they have four or five boys who will soon be 17.

Solomon gave us a tour of the orphanage, including the rooms for the kids. They were small rooms with no furniture, except for shelves where the kids’ belongings were stored. We saw none of the high-priced toys that kids in some parts of the world think they need to be happy. But what we did see is that the staff and volunteers selflessly sacrificed to give these kids parents who love them. The kids have quality life, and have been introduced to Christ so that they can have the hope of eternal life. Kids need that – and so do their parents.

India Journal–smiling faces

We went on a long road trip today. From Chennai south to Sankarapuram and back (304 miles). I saw lots of things that I was familiar with, because much of the terrain and buildings and traffic reminded me of travels during my years in the Philippines. The colorful Hindu shrines were an obvious difference, and I did not see one basketball court. So, no, it was not in the Philippines.

We stopped along the way for some traditional Indian coffee, and Immanuel showed me how it is cooled for drinking. It was surprisingly refreshing, considering the fact that it is served piping hot, in 80+ degree weather. I could definitely develop a habit on that stuff.

The highlight (and purpose) of our trip was a visit to Christ Special High School in Sankarapuram, a special school for disabled children and children from single-parent families. The campus is clean and simple, with not a lot of fancy adornment. But it is decorated with the smiling faces of (currently) about 100 wonderful kids. The atmosphere changed as soon as we saw those children. All those miles were worth it.

We had just arrived when some of the girls wanted to show us the craft projects they were working on. There was little shyness here. The kids wanted to get to know us, and they seemed genuinely happy that we had visited. It was hard not to fall in love with them.

There were smiles, songs, and dances as the kids put on a special program for us. We exchanged gifts, greeted one another, and prayed. We especially thanked God for the gifted teachers who have been giving of themselves to allow these kids to have a chance at a better life.

I appreciated meeting with pastor Paul Nilavan. It was impressive to see a man give so much of himself for the ministry, and sacrifice without complaining. Since 1993, this school has been making a difference in children’s’ lives, and providing a better future for the community. People like Paul and the other members of his team have been taking the hurting and helpless and putting smiles on their faces.

India journal – encouragement

We have had a long day of meetings, and a trip into the heart of the city of Chennai. I came to India to learn more about the missions, schools, orphanages and other such ministries my organization is currently helping to support. I also wanted to be an encouragement to the workers, many of whom are toiling long hours in difficult situations with little or no contact with the people who have been praying for them. I wanted to be a face to the “we’re praying for you” message that these good people have been hearing. Please pray that I fulfill that mission of encouragement.

Today I was given more encouragement than I gave. I saw first-hand some men of God who are pouring their lives into ministry and making a difference. Let me highlight two such men:

M. M. Immanuel is one of those people who is always doing something. He and his cellphone are constantly connected. He’s the man many of us come to for answers, particularly when the questions are hard. Immanuel does not always tell us what we want to hear, but he has the courage to tell us the truth we need to hear. We thank the LORD for him. Please hold this servant up in prayer.

Ravi Paul is one of the more enigmatic characters I have met today. He is an impressive lawyer with an analytical mind and a reserved composure. Yet underneath his calm is a man passionate about the gospel. When he told us about the ministry his church is doing among the slum residents in his area, you could hear that passion. They are helping to transform entire communities by giving young people a help out of the trap of poverty, not by just giving away food or money, but by assisting in their education. Their church provides a place for young people to study, and covenants with parents to keep distractions away so that the students can succeed. It is working. Already several of the youth have obtained good jobs and are on their way to a future that would have been much different if it weren’t for people like Ravi. Join me in thanking the LORD for Ravi, and pray that he continues to display integrity in a profession that is often type-casted for the lack of it.

exchanging this world for heaven

A friend recently posted a quote from Dave Hunt, who said:

“The choice we face is not, as many imagine, between heaven and hell. Rather, the choice is between heaven and this world. Even a fool would exchange hell for heaven; but only the wise will exchange this world for heaven.” – An Urgent Call To A Serious faith.

Hunt stated in another book:

“The real choice we must and do make – daily, hourly – is between heaven and this earth. … Our attitudes and actions continually reflect our unconscious answer to the question: ‘Am I willing to leave this earth right now for heaven, or is there something that holds me here and thus something on earth which stands between my Lord and me at this moment?’” – When Will Jesus Come, p. 250.

My response to that FB post will be perhaps confusing to my many friends who are not aware of my conditionalist theological position:

“This world is the place that Jesus died to redeem. This world is the place where Jesus is coming (from heaven) to rule. This world is the place that God and believers will inherit (Psalm 82:8; Matthew 5:5). The gospel is not a call for us to exchange the world for heaven. It is a call for us to accept the grace of the one who is coming from heaven to earth. A serious faith takes the Bible seriously. While Christians are called not to love the present world or the things in it (1 John 2:15), we are never called to escape it. We are called to conquer it (1 John 5:4).”

There is a difference between setting our affections on things above and setting our hopes on leaving the earth. Hunt and many others of the traditionalist view seek to blur that distinction. They believe that the hope of the believer is to go somewhere else besides earth and be with God when they die.

This is the Bible’s definition of the blessed hope:

“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 ESV).

When people imply that the hope of believers is going to heaven when they die, they are exchanging the biblical hope for something else. Some have been so conditioned to believe that the goal of believers is to go to heaven that they never see the contradiction when they look at biblical texts.

What are you waiting for? Are you waiting to die so that you can see Jesus in heaven, or are you waiting for the appearing of Christ on earth? If you think your goal is to escape earth, why do you think that? I challenge you to read the Bible again, and look for the hope and the inheritance it describes. The only thing the Bible calls us to escape is hell. We are called not to escape the world, but to conquer the world for Christ:

“…whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith” (1 John 5:4 NRSV).

You do not conquer something by running away from it, but by doing battle, defeating it, and claiming it for your king. That is what conquerors do. They overcome in battle, and claim new territory. Biblical faith does not urge believers to want to die so that the battle will be over. Biblical faith challenges believers to take this world back for the king it rightfully belongs to.

When human beings were placed on this earth, God did not say, “It’s OK for a while, but what I really want is for you to be in heaven with me.” No, he looked on the two people in Eden and said that it was very good. He called on them not to escape the earth but to have dominion over it, to fill it, and to subdue it (Genesis 1:26-28). He never rescinded that command.

When Jesus taught his disciples about things to come, he promised them the Holy Spirit from heaven (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, and he promised that he would return from heaven (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26-27; John 14:3). He never once promised them a trip to heaven before he returned. Why would he leave that out?

What Jesus promised us was a resurrection on the last day – the day of his return:

“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6:39 ESV).

“ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day”(John 6:40 ESV).

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44 ESV).

“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:54 ESV).

Our king Jesus is the only human being who has ascended to heaven right now:

“No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man” (John 3:13 ESV).

The only biblical hope is that he will return to take his rightful place on this earth as its king. It sounds right and biblical to talk about exchanging this world for heaven, but it is neither. The world is looking for answers. The least we believers can do is get the answers right.