18 Jul The Mountains
We?re about halfway through our time serving in Central Asia. In many ways, it seems like we just got here. We?re still trying to familiarize ourselves with basic phrases, figuring out our favorite foods, and discovering new places. But even in this short time, one thing that we?ve all learned is how easily the circumstances that we?re living in can bring discouragement and frustration.?
The soil is hard here. The churches are small. In fact, most of them are smaller than some of the ?small groups? at my home church. The gospel is rejected on two different fronts: first, by those who adhere to another religion fervently; and second, by those who reject religion altogether in favor of secularism.
Further, the churches that are here face daily struggles. Members will come and go. In a culture that is so hostile to Christianity, re-assimilating into a life outside the church is a constant temptation. Further, some false shepherds have tried to take advantage of the believers here, hoping to find themselves an easy job or recognition.?
In our own work, we?ve found some encouragement. We?ve had many great conversations. We?ve gotten to talk about important things with friends that we?ve met in only the past few weeks. We?ve gotten to worship with believers not only from the country we?re serving in but from around the world. But part of me, if I?m honest, asks, ?is it worth it?? Will the work continue when we leave? If the work continues, does it matter? In a country where less than a percent of the population holds to the gospel, can we have hope? Where can we find it?
I?ve thought about this question as I?ve walked around our city and spent time with believers. Here are three things that have stood out and reminded me of the certainty of the accomplishment of God?s work:
The mountains
We?re living in a big city. Growing up in upstate South Carolina, I?m not used to seeing so many buildings and cars all the time. Millions of people live and work here. Public transportation forms a spiderweb of networks across the city that is hard to visualize.
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But when you drive outside of the city, you see the mountains. They dwarf the city, towering over the tallest skyscraper that man has to offer. On one of our drives, it struck me that over and over again the psalmist points out God?s creating work as a testimony to his power (for example, Psalms 104, 8, and 146:5-7). God, the creator of heaven and earth, has authority over his creation. Thus, we don?t have to fear that our work will come to nothing: ?Our God is in the heavens, he does all that he pleases (Ps 115:3).? He will accomplish the work that he has begun in our country, whether we are here to see it or not (Phil 1:6). Seeing God?s creation here has reminded me of the futility of my own actions and the absolute stunning power that he has, reigning over all things. Because I trust in his goodness, I can find assurance in his power.
The power of the gospel
As we?ve worked in a context where an old religion grips the hearts of the majority of the people here, I?ve been forced to realize that I often think that my own words have the ability to make others believe. But as I hear testimony of God?s work here and witness the laborers here, I?m reminded again and again that plausible arguments and the strength of our reasoning are useless in granting life to those who are spiritually dead. Rather, the seeming folly of Christ crucified is the only hope of life that is available. This forces us to assess all of our efforts. How often do we think of ourselves as sufficient? How often do we believe the subtle lie that somehow we can convince someone to cross from death to life? If those who worked here fell into that trap, they would give up on their efforts in frustration within months. But Paul says that he spoke to the Corinthians not with plausible arguments but ?in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Cor 2:5).? Likewise, reminding myself of the power of the gospel has freed me from feeling like a failure when someone doesn?t engage in the conversation or accept what we claim to be truth. Instead of feeling like I haven?t done enough, I?ve found joy in resting in the certainty that God has many people in this city who are his (Acts 18:10).
The saints
Being with believers has become one of the greatest blessings in my life. Being away from my home church has been challenging, but I?ve been amazed by the welcome that I?ve been shown by the churches that we?ve worked with here. The churches are diverse and hospitable, showing us love and friendship as if we were old friends. This Sunday, one of the leaders preached from 1 John 4. Verse 12 says, ?No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.? The love that Christians have for one another manifests God?s presence. Experiencing this has given me joy and strength as we?ve worked here, and has helped me to continue in the work that has been provided for us this summer. While I may never know the fruit of our works, I trust the Lord and am thankful that our future inheritance has been secured. I hope to see many of the friends that I?ve made here again in the future as we rejoice in the Lamb.?
-Jon