May our voice be added...

September 12, 2007

Today in class (HGM bootcamp) we watched a video about a tribal group in Indonesia that had never heard about Jesus or the gospel. Over the years I have seen many such videos and it seems a daily thing for me to talk with people about others in the same situation throughout the earth. Today, however, something was different; this video showed that these people have always, as far as any one could remember, been looking for the path to eternal life. It was a constant topic of conversation and something these people put a lot of work into. At one point they even built a boat, filled it with all kinds of fruits, vegetables and gifts. They sent the boat down the river hoping that the spirits of their ancestors, those who knew the way to life, would find this boat causing them to remember the ones who sent it and come back to teach them the way.

It was 30 years later that the first followers of Jesus came to this people. God heard their cry and responded by sending His children to show them the path to life.

As I watched this video my heart broke as I thought of all those who died waiting for these messengers of the cross to come. As I cried I felt pain that is in the heart of the Lord Jesus over the billions of souls that today are searching and asking with no one to tell them the way. I went out to the prayer chapel here and wept with Jesus as He brought pictures of many old men and women who I have met or seen on my travels. I know that most if not all of them will die and that Jesus will never receive the worship He deserves from them.

Brothers and sisters, tomorrow begins the Holy month of Ramadan.  For one month 1,000,000,000 Muslims throughout the earth will fast from food and water from sun up to sun down and pray more regularly than at any other time of year. Many of them are excited for this time of spiritual focus and hope to somehow encounter the One True God. Five times a day they will pray, the end of their prayer is asking God to lead them on the straight path not the way of unrighteous but of the pure. 

 Why has He chosen me, saved me, shown me His grace and love? Am I better than these? Did I seek harder? Or want Him more? I think not. Never did I make a boat, sacrifice food, fast, pray, give, ask, search, cry out, bow down for years on end or give up anything of real worth in hopes of finding truth. Still Jesus came to me and showed me the straight path. Will we allow the humility that this kind of truth demands into our hearts and from a place of submission tell Him, “Father, whatever you have for me. I will obey! You have freely given me so much. Teach me to freely give.”

God said He hears those who call upon Him and His ear is attentive to their prayer. May our voice be added to the billion Muslim voices that are crying out for Mercy. Saints, we can go into the Holy of Holies, stand before the throne of Grace by the blood of the Lamb and ask for mercy in our time of need. Let us take up this most awesome and holy gift and duty of being priests. Let us plead for God to have mercy on them.

In the Name of Jesus the only name by which men can be saved,

m