This morning, I received a wonderful email
from a high school student in the states. She told me that after hearing the
mission news that we need more servants of God who can communicate and share
the Gospel in either Arabic or Farsi language, she went to the section of
foreign languages in the public library near her house yesterday. And then, she
borrowed the Arabic and Greek study books and embarked on the Arabic alphabet immediately
last night! Oh, what a tremendous and extraordinary maiden for Christ!
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So, today, I'd like to write a letter of
encouragement to our mission-minded Christian youths. Yes, I want to encourage you
to pursue a concentrated life.
As you all know, in this world, there are
so many cultural & athletic events, harmless hobbies, recreations etc which
are not evil in themselves, meaning, it is not sin at all for Christians to
engage themselves in these things.
However, I want to challenge you, my dear
young Christians. Do you want to live a Gospel-centered life? If so, the Gospel
preaching should not be just one piece of your fairly busy life schedules and
various trifles. No, it should be the very center of your life. In fact, the
Gospel mission should be an axis and that your life shall revolve around it
(and not vice versa.)
If we do this and pursue "one thing
needful (Luke10:42)" seriously and wholeheartedly, then He will show you
the order of priority in your life. Maybe your church friends are enjoying some
things which are not evil in themselves, and they spend quite a lot of time and
money on these and talk a lot about these things. Yeah, of course, these might be good
for them but what about you?
Have you heard the names like Van Dyke or
Henry Martyn? They were the young missionaries who had been sent to Middle East
in the 19th century and after tremendous efforts, they started to translate the
Holy Bible from Hebrew/Aramaic/Koine Greek into Arabic and Persian languages.
Amazingly,
both Van Dyke Arabic translation (1867) and Henry Martyn Persian translation (1837)
have been used as one of the best word-for-word translations until today.
"No one going as a soldier entangles
himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him
as a soldier." 2 Timothy 2:4
I think you all know about Jim Elliot. He was
a missionary martyr to Auca tribe in Ecuador who was killed along with his four
other fellow missionaries in 1956.
Elizabeth Elliot, who later became his wife,
wrote in her memoirs that while they were studying in Wheaton College, she happened
to see this young man (=Jim) in the student cafeteria. Waiting in the line, Jim
was completely absorbed in memorizing the Koine Greek verbs on the cards, which
left her deep and lasting impression.
"When the time comes to die, make sure
that all you have to do is die!"
― The Journals of Jim Elliot
So, like Van Dyke and Henry Martyn, Jim was
the man of concentration, too.
“Surely those who know the great
passionate heart of Jehovah must deny their own loves to share in the
expression of His. Consider the call from the Throne above, "Go ye,"
and from round about, "Come over and help us," and even the call from
the damned souls below, "Send Lazarus to my brothers, that they come not
to this place."
Impelled, then, by these voices, I dare not stay home
while Quichuas perish. So what if the well-fed church in the homeland needs
stirring? They have the Scriptures, Moses, and the Prophets, and a whole lot
more.
Their condemnation is written on their bank books and in the dust on
their Bible covers. American believers have sold their lives to the service of
Mammon, and God has His rightful way of dealing with those who succumb to the
spirit of Laodicea.”
― Jim Elliot
My dear young Christians, our life on this
earth is just one time. For which cause and for whom do you want to pour out your
life?
