More than just a wish

When I was younger (in the time of Aladin & Sinbad stories) I also thought about the wishes I would make if I had a genie in a lamp. After much thought I decided that if I had only one wish in the world, I would like to make the world a better place to live in. The only way I could think of to accomplish that, was to wish for everyone in the world to be Christians.

When I grew older and a little wiser, I realized that it would not be the solution. Maybe it had something to do with Ghandi’s quote (I like your Christ, but not you Christians). I then decided that my wish would have to change to everyone having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It took a few years of growing older and wiser before I realized that this would not be the solution either. For one thing, our gentle God will never force someone to have a relationship with Him and if everyone had a relationship with God, it would not necessarily solve the problem. There’s no guarantee that everyone will be diligently obedient to God and there will still be hurt, pain and death in the world. And wishing also weren’t the answer. So, I came to the conclusion that if God would grant me one request, it would be for Jesus to return soon.

Even this request presents a problem - there is still so many souls that are lost. It was something I’ve struggled about with God. Especially while staying in a Chinese town among people who’ve never seen a missionary or heard about Christ. And here I know the Truth that can set them free if they believe and there is no way for me to communicate this to them using words. Then God came and showed me Rom1:18-24 - “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. “

Once again it dawned on me that God does not need me to proclaim who He is. He does not need me to take Him to the nations – He is already there!!! By grace He chose to use me and by grace I was saved. There is nothing I did or can do to deserve it. And the only difference between me and the random guy I meet on the street is definitely not my lifestyle. There are some unbelievers out there who are far “better” people than what I would ever be. Just in this week I’ve seen people, who do not even know us, go out of their way to help and entertain us. People who live a good life, but don't know Jesus.

At some point I kind of felt like Solomon in Ecclesiastes – everything comes to nothing. Coming to the conclusion that in this world there is nothing better to do than to be joyful and to do good as long as we live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man. (Ecc 3:12-13)

However, I also came to another conclusion – that the only thing that counts in this life is being obedient to God and showing through this obedience that I love Him (John 2v5 and John 15). And if my obedience to Him means not seeing one soul being saved in this life time of mine, then I’ll still be obedient and praise Him. And if it means seeing thousands of souls being saved, then I’ll still be obedient and give all honour and praise to Him. For we are mere men who cannot perceive the thoughts and ways of our awesome God. It is my desire to go where He sends me and do what He asks of me. My questions to you today are, are you doing what God wants you to do now? And if God granted you one request, what will you ask for?

Written by Marisa Fourie