Not much has changed since we left South Africa for the first time on the 5th of March. Coffee is about R3.50 more expensive per 250g and the Stormsrivier toll gate has increased to R40. 26-inch mountain bikes are almost phased out completely, which means by this stage everyone has a 29-inch to brag with.
Some people got married, others got engaged and the rest are still single. Some people have also been oversees, some got new jobs or a raise in their salary and a few have property on their name for the first time. But apart from these material things, everything is still the same. Everyone still talks about what they usually talked about and get joy out of the same things that gave them joy a year ago.
I look at these things and at the people and notice I am the one that have changed. The way I perceive things have changed. The way I relate to people have changed. One of the most frequently asked questions is: ''In what area have you grown the most this year?'' I am speechless at this type of question because I do not know where to begin or where to end. I do not even know what words to use.
This year pulled back the curtain that was over my eyes and gave me a staggering view of my Saviour. A view that boggles my mind and enraptures my heart. A view that leaves me breathless and speechless. A view that no false doctrine can stand in the presence of. The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see the incomparable Christ. And this has wiped everything else off the table. Especially those things that used to compete with Him in my life. I no longer have to try to love Him. The love is ignited naturally at the sight of His matchless worth. You can say He has found the secret stairway into my heart, conquered it, and made it burn with joy.
I used to think about Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, but now I know He is so much more.
He is: our Shepherd, our Advocate, our Mediator, our Bridegroom, our Conqueror, our Lion, our Lamb, our smitten Rock, our living water, our food, our drink, our good and abundant land, our dwelling place, our new wine, our aroma, our anchor, our wisdom, our peace, our comfort, our shelter, our Healer, our joy, our glory, our power, our strength, our wealth, our victory, our redemption, our Prophet, our Priest, our kinsman redeemer, our teacher, our guide, our liberator, our deliverer, our Prince, our Captain, our vision, our sight, our beloved, our way, our truth, our life, our author, our finisher, our beginning, our end, our eternity - our all and all. He is the same yesterday, today and forever; yet He is new every morning. But beyond all of this He is our King, our judge and the True Witness.
May God have a people on this earth who are of Christ, through Christ and for Christ. A people of the cross. A people consumed with an unvarnished vision of God’s eternal passion: to make Christ preeminent, supreme, and the head over all things visible and invisible. A people who are searching His immeasurable depths, exploring His unfathomable heights, discovering His unsearchable riches, encountering His abundant life, receiving His infinite love, and making Him known to others.
– Frank Viola, Jesus Manifesto
Colossians 1:27
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
2015. WHAT AN ADVENTURE. What an amazing privilege. Would I recommend Global Challenge? Definitely. Without a doubt in my mind. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.