1. In chapel a couple of weeks ago, one of the professors I really like and admire (Scot Keen) who has a fun, hillbilly, Kentucky accent (but who surprised me with his intelligence), said, "Many Christians think that if they don't go, God will send someone else. But where does it say that in the Bible? Maybe he won't. I truly believe there are people groups that don't have the Bible right now because someone didn't go when God wanted them to." Of course, God says he won't return until every nation and tongue has heard. So they will eventually hear. But are we okay with the fact that there will be hundreds who will die before God may send someone else? Hundreds who have never heard the gospel message. We shouldn't be okay with this. I don't believe God calls everyone to overseas missions... it wouldn't even make sense for God to do such a thing because the sending church is such an important part of missions. But I am positive that God has called people into missions who never ended up going. I know this because I know people like this. I know this because Ben and I almost ended up being like these people. It's so easy to get sucked into the American Christian dream and to think, "Well, I can just support missionaries. God can use me here in America too." And he can. But don't doubt a call in your life to go overseas. Also, I'm a firm believer that you don't have to "feel or hear" a special call in order to decide to go overseas. The Lord wants more laborers! There are never enough. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
2. In class the other day, a professor (Gutwein) said, "It's intolerable and unacceptable that there are people on this earth who have never heard the gospel." It was a pretty strong statement and made me sit back for a second. But really... Christ came 2000 years ago. Why are there still people who haven't heard... ever? Even here at New Tribes Bible Institute, it's so easy for me to forget the need out there. It's easy to get sucked into current music and clothing trends and even into the latest Biblical debate or theological discussion. None of these are bad in and of themselves, but I must remember there's a greater need out there, and I must do something about it.
3. Ben and I are currently studying Exodus, and I was really struck by something our Pentateuch book said. In talking about the tabernacle, it says, "The inner curtain separated the Most Holy Place, traditionally known as the Holy of Holies, from the Holy Place. This arrangement was later duplicated in Israel's temple, and it was apparently this curtain (veil) that tore when Christ died. The writer to Hebrews declared, 'We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body' (Heb. 10:19-20). Through the shed blood of the incarnate Christ, the believer now has access to God and as it were, the separating curtain has been torn in two." (The Pentateuch- L. Thomas Holdcroft- pg 163). This is one of those things that I think I have always known, but I just never let it sink in. How amazing that we can enter the Holy of Holies at any point to speak to a personal God. We no longer need to sacrifice and be cleansed... Jesus has already done this, once and for all. I'm so thankful that the Old Testament can remind me of how grateful I am for Jesus' sacrifice for me.
I'm sure there's more I'm learning, but these are the three biggest things that stick out to me right now. Please continue to pray that God will open our minds and hearts to learn new things.
