Recently, on hearing my friend’s account of her mission’s trip with her family to the jungles of the Bolivian Amazonia, my immediate request to God was, “Please Lord, don’t send me.” You may think that would not be the correct Christian response to the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of these underprivileged indigenous people. However, although their needs touched me, I was overwhelmed by fear when I heard about the crocodiles, big snakes and tigers that lived right there in these communities. There is an old Jamaican proverb that says, “Coward man keep sound bone.” Now for those who may have some trouble understanding this saying, it basically means that it is better to be thought of as a coward and to keep safe than to take risks. I was ready to live out that proverb, until a couple days later when we came across this verse in Bible Study.
But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8
I realized right away that the cowardly was first in that list and that they were going to be in the lake of fire that is the second death. This really made me stop to think. And then I remembered the Bible verse which says:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18
These two verses got me into a mode of repentance. Well, first I am not trying to go into a fire in which Jesus won’t be with me like He was for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. That is not a Holy Ghost fire. Secondly, and in my opinion the most important, is that if I love God, I will want to share the love of God with anyone and everyone, no matter how inconvenient, uncomfortable or hazardous the conditions I might encounter, which may increase the risk of me not keeping my bones safe. Plus, we should not forget that it is because of God’s love for us that He gave His only beloved Son so that none of us would enter into eternal death, but rather eternal life. Would He then not do the same with us, His beloved children? He would send us to be His hands, feet and heart to bring the lost to Him despite the physical dangers. He often told His chosen ones in the Bible to not be afraid, but rather to be bold and courageous as He would be with them on the assignment He was sending them on.
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. Philippians 1:20-22
Paul was not concerned about keeping his bones safe. He was ready to die for Christ and to live for Him. But no matter which, he wanted his life and death to bring glory to God. He was constantly in danger from shipwrecks, from snakes, from his own countrymen and even from false brothers, but they couldn’t stop him from bringing the gospel to many different regions because he loved Jesus and wanted Him exalted in every person he met. What is the difference between Paul and me, or you? You may say that was a different time and they were used to the dangers that they faced. However, the fact is Paul could have stayed safely home making tents and just told those around him about Jesus. But Paul was not about his physical security when people’s eternal lives were at stake. So, he went where many people would not have dared to go.
I too, must go wherever God sends me, whether it is to an inner-city community in Jamaica, the jungles of the Amazon, the desert in Timbuktu, or the wintry weather of Siberia. The Christian life is not about ease and comfort, but rather it is about obedience to the Father and where His Spirit leads, we should follow, no matter the cost.
Are you ready to go where God sends you? Or are you saying to Him as I did, “Don’t send me”? Is your desire for safety more important than your willingness to do your Savior’s Great Commission? Or will you be like so many other saints who have gone ahead to forge a path for lost souls to get to Heaven?
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
When you hear the call like Isaiah did, will you say, “Send me”?
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