Every day I go to work and come home expecting to end up in the maternity ward of the hospital with a new baby and yet so far the baby is still holding on. His actual due date is Tuesday, July 3rd, and it would be highly uncharacteristic for a child of ours to come early ;). As the days dredge slowly by, it is hard for my mind to be on anything else. I think the hardest part of this process has been waiting and not knowing when the day would actually come. There is some peace in knowing that the absolutely latest our doctor group would let Sammie stay in is July 10th.
I can't wait to see this little boy who is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. I must admit that I am scared of the actual birth process but I know it will all be worth while. I know my wife and our child is in God's hands. It will be so exciting to hold him in my arms, to see his little fingers and toes, to gaze into those beautiful, probably blue, eyes, and to breathe in this gift my wife and I have been given. Each day I am closer to this. Each day I am better understanding what it means for a father to love his son.
I have not even met our son yet and I cannot even imagine ever having to lose him. How could God the Father allow Jesus to die on that cross? How could Abraham willingly take his son to the altar? Even with something so great as the removal of all sin, I believe I wouldn't be able to let my son go, to let him die. I would willingly die in an instant for my son but to let my son die for those who aren't even worthy is unfathomable to me. How great is the Father's love for us that He could stand to watch Jesus take on all the world's sin? How great is the Father's grace that he would allow Jesus to be our substitution?
Many people in this world believe in a Godly being who was involved in the creation of this universe and yet so many of them believe He is not relational but a distant omnipotent being. Our world is crying out for love, peace, and unity. We all so desperately want to connect with others, with this world, and with the answer of what happens to us after we die. Yet so many are unwilling to believe in a real, loving, and just God. So many are willing to take the chance that Christianity isn't true, forsaking the love from the true God for love of this world.
It breaks my heart every time I am talking with someone who can not see what Jesus did for them on the cross. There have been so many times I wished that I could show them He is real. If only they could see how He is moving in my heart, they would believe. If only I could answer all their questions, they would believe. Some times the hardest part about telling someone about Jesus, is that we have to trust the Lord with their heart and pray that one day the seed will bear fruit.
For all the brothers and sisters who are desperately trying to share the gospel with those around them and meeting resistance, take heart brothers and sisters for the Lord is with us. Many of us will be used as hard labor to prepare the fields of non-Christians hearts. Some will have to remove the rocks from the fields, some will have to plow the rows, some will have to cut down trees and remove the stumps, some will have to water the seed, some will just have the privilege of shining the light on the field, and yet fewer still will get to reap the harvest. Don't lose heart if you are one of the ones toiling in the preparing of hearts that they may be fertile soil.
Hebrews 12:1-2 say, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." We are to endure in continuing to share the gospel with those who are a labor. We are to find strength in knowing that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witness' who have worked and gone before us. We are to find endurance knowing the race we are running is for eternity with Christ. Remember brothers and sisters, your labors are not in vain and you do not labor alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 say, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." God uses our faithfulness and ultimately God is the one who transforms their hearts.
So when you get to that place where you are tired and weary and feel like you can't continue to proclaim the gospel anymore, consider how precious each heart is to God. Remember He is yoked right beside you. Take the time to see them like a father who sees his boy or girl for that first time. Take the time to remember the intense love God feels for them. Take the time to the to remember that no matter how difficult, trying, or closed off they seem on the outside, God sees a soul worth dying for.
Blessings,
Greg
I hope you will please check out our fundraiser site to help us pay off our student loan debt and make it as a career missionaries to Spain. This picture is of us with the couple we would ministering together with. I hope you will check out the site and read all the updates. Thank you so much for your prayers and consideration. If you have any questions feel free to email me at realchristianwalk@gmail.com
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