Perspective March 21,2014
FROM THE FIELD March 21, 2014
Perspective
Our perspective is limited. Walking upon the earth we wonder what lies around the bend and beyond the next rise. Man coursing through the air by plane travel thinks as he looks down, ‘What a perspective on things I now have!’ But there is a curvature to the earth, and even as man passes over his view is changed and he no longer sees what he once thought he saw so clearly. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will be accomplished. So we are reminded of perspective. Our God is in the heavens. He does whatever He pleases. His eyes roam to and fro throughout all the earth. Obvious isn’t it how in outreach as in everything we trust in Him, the God of time and eternity, for what lies around the bend and beyond the rise. Lord give us the spiritual legs to walk and the joyful heart to anticipate.
You might be interested in reading or seeing “Beyond the Next Mountain.” You can also read about the present day Hmar Tribe in the Cachar and North Cachar Hills of Assam, a tribe which turned from head-hunting to heart hunting through the Gospel of John.(Shown in the film/book.) Incidentally, the CLC had a request from the North Cachar Hills of a group of Presbyterians at the time who said they had changed their name to ours and invited us to come. They had received literature through St. Luke’s Lemmon,SD when our mission committee was sending Christian materials overseas and writing back and forth. The invitation was forwarded to the CLC Mission Board and….yes lost in a limited perspective. This happened a little over 30 years ago.
Launch Out Into the Deep
Before we even look at the Scripture reference our flesh is somewhat squeamish at it being ‘deep’ out there. Luke 5:1-11 Our Lord beckons us now as He did His disciples then to launch out into the deep to be fishers of men. We are prone to stay in the shallows.
Reading v.4 the flesh says, “If we do we shall be imperiled for you know how quickly a storm can come up on the sea and being so tuckered out how could we weather such a tempest?” Today also to be fishers of men the old flesh can come up with a multitude of excuses to not go.
Reading v.5 “All night and nothing…” As if the Lord did not know that! Can you detect the slight recrimination, exasperation, reluctant submission? Despite this the Lord blesses. It is no different today for us of the same nature as those then.
Reading vv.6-7 HELP! The nets are breaking. Filling both boats these then begin to sink. In our overseas opportunities to be fishers of men we face the nets full to breaking and the boats sinking as they are so ‘overloaded.’ But what great problems to face that there are so many who want to find out about us, and those that are after money will fall away sooner or later. The great catch is OUT THERE though and He beckons us “Launch…”
Reading v.8 we know it takes humble submission to Him and His directions and purposes and not ours.
Reading v.9 aren’t we astonished at the opportunities to catch men or do we look keenly at the tearing nets and sinking boats and wonder how can it succeed? The Lord knows.
Reading v. 11 the only response is total dedication to the task, our wherewithal afterall is His. Do we look at this from the perspective of limited resources (tearing nets and sinking boats) or do we get the big picture of reallocation, dedication and prayer?
Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns – J. Hudson Taylor(1832-1905) said,”How often do we attempt work for God to the limit of our incompetency, rather than to the limit of God’s omnipotence?” He started the China Inland Mission which at his death had 125 stations with 800 missionaries and 125,000 Chinese Christians. Based upon work like the CIM’s when the Communists took over forty some years later in China, the church could go underground and prosper even in adversity.
We look at the acorn and think’ it is a tough nut to crack.’ We ponder the mighty oak and think ‘how could that come from the tiny acorn?’ The answer: “For with God nothing will be impossible” Lk. 1:37,”…With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Mt. 19:26, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Mk. 9:23 We humbly cry out with the father of the child, “I believe; help my unbelief.”
Think back 30 years to us not going into the Cachar Hills. And then think how God mercifully knocked on our door again for India.