Swept into Eternity
This morning when I heard about the giant earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I was relieved because I knew Lori, Jeff, Kade, and Avenly were safe in Taiwan, but tears still came to my eyes. My heart was touched by the plight of the Japanese people. Many were swept into eternity without any warning. The saddest part is knowing that less than 1% of the people in Japan are prepared for eternity by knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. I began to pray for the people and the relief efforts, and I have continued praying all day, as I am sure many of you have, also.
Several years ago when the huge tsunami hit Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other countries in that region, I had similar feelings. At that time, Jerry Rankin, the former President of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, made a profound statement. He told us that the disaster only served to emphasize a constant dilemma. When we see the destruction, we think of the lives lost, but we forget about them on a normal day. His point was that thousands of lives are swept into eternity without Christ every day. Our prayers should be just as fervent on those days as they are when there is a crisis. Our efforts to rescue them should be just as drastic on those days, because the result is the same. However, we are often lulled to sleep by the busyness of our lives, and we forget our mission to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to every people group in the world, so they can know Him and be prepared for life here and eternity with Him.
Please, let this disaster cause you to pray earnestly for Japan and the rest of the world that needs the Lord. Make sure you pray every day for our missionaries, not just when there is a crisis. Our mission is life and death every day, and every believer has a part. We can all pray, and we can all give. Most of us can go, and we should take the time to personally go overseas to share the love of Jesus. In the last tsunami the Muslim people were impressed by the Christians who responded in love, and many of them came to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The same thing can happen this time, if we Christians will respond as we should, and show His love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 20-21 and Ruth 1-2.
March 11 – Ephesians 2:10
Tell God that you do not want to do what you want to do each day, but you want Him to show you what He has prepared for you to do today. He knows just what you can and should do, because He made you and saved you. He planned out your life before you were saved, but He does not force you to do His will.
Several years ago when the huge tsunami hit Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other countries in that region, I had similar feelings. At that time, Jerry Rankin, the former President of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, made a profound statement. He told us that the disaster only served to emphasize a constant dilemma. When we see the destruction, we think of the lives lost, but we forget about them on a normal day. His point was that thousands of lives are swept into eternity without Christ every day. Our prayers should be just as fervent on those days as they are when there is a crisis. Our efforts to rescue them should be just as drastic on those days, because the result is the same. However, we are often lulled to sleep by the busyness of our lives, and we forget our mission to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to every people group in the world, so they can know Him and be prepared for life here and eternity with Him.
Please, let this disaster cause you to pray earnestly for Japan and the rest of the world that needs the Lord. Make sure you pray every day for our missionaries, not just when there is a crisis. Our mission is life and death every day, and every believer has a part. We can all pray, and we can all give. Most of us can go, and we should take the time to personally go overseas to share the love of Jesus. In the last tsunami the Muslim people were impressed by the Christians who responded in love, and many of them came to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The same thing can happen this time, if we Christians will respond as we should, and show His love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 20-21 and Ruth 1-2.
March 11 – Ephesians 2:10
Tell God that you do not want to do what you want to do each day, but you want Him to show you what He has prepared for you to do today. He knows just what you can and should do, because He made you and saved you. He planned out your life before you were saved, but He does not force you to do His will.