How Can They Believe...?

     Romans 10:14 says:  "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"  Surrounded by innumerable gods, the people of India are very spiritual in the postmodern sense--intense religion, a pantheon of gods, and an awareness of the supernatural (and fear of it) are very much woven into the fabric of life.

     But how can worshipping a tree connect you to the One True God?  How can a statue have compassion on your suffering?  How can elaborate shrines point you to the love of the One Who died for your sins--and loves you deeply?

     As an author said recently, there is no Plan B.  We, the church, the Christ-followers, are the ones responsible for the souls of the nations.  Take it seriously.  In Ezekiel  33:6,7 God says: "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.  Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me."
     If we learned one thing these past two weeks from the intense, inescapable heat, it was that we do NOT want to go to hell, nor see anyone go there.  We, the complacent American church members, are satisfied to show up on Sunday, do our hour for God, and go home to a sumptuous dinner.  Is that why we were saved?  Is that God's shallow purpose for creating us?  I don't think so.

     If we truly believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, then we had better make sure that the multitudes of the lost have heard His Gospel.  If we truly love Christ, and love our neighbors, we need to tell them about that love.  This trip to India has burned that fact, literally, deep into my soul.  Crowds milling about the streets and marketplaces, bodies and souls crammed into huts and houses and makeshift tents, all searching for God, even if they are unaware of Him.  We could see the intense concentration as they listened to His Word, sitting in front of us, or even hiding in the shadows down the street.  Who is this Jesus?  What kind of God loves us, me, an Untouchable nobody?  Can this be true?  Why have I never heard of Him before?

     Surrounded by the little children at Bible School, I could feel the love that Jesus has for them.  And experience their eager response that prompted Him to say, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14.  If we truly love the children as He did, we need to make sure that none of them perish--physically for want of food, or spiritually for lack of knowing about Him.  We need to get off our pews and into the field, the neighborhoods, the cities of the nations that need Christ desperately.  "Here am I, Lord, send me!" should be the driving force of our existence.  At least, send us, the workers, into His harvest fields before He returns.  Or better yet, join us on the next trip, if you dare!  It will be hard but wonderful, and it will change your life--and their souls forever.
     PS:  Alice, Cindy and Karen are now back in the US; Russ and Albert have gone on to Bangalore following God's guidance to new doors opening before AIM.  Please keep praying for health and direction, and for more souls in the great harvest.