Sin causes severe illness!

 I must admit, on my first mission trips, we worried about things like illnesses, local food allergies, insects/animals, and even some local customs that we may be a bit adverse to encountering. Let's be real, we were travelling to Caribbean islands, New Orleans, New York City, among other areas. We were informed of different cultures, local practices, and even a wide variety of food. While we were not harmed by any of these things in out twenty four years of ministry, we have had to back away from some, avoid others, and adapt to many as well, especially the variety of foods! While we enjoyed digging in to various cultures while serving and sharing Christ, our digestive systems did not always agree. Nonetheless, we are better for the experiences!

There was one thing we had in common with every person in every area we have served however: sin causes severe illness! Even when serving in areas of challenging economic conditions, language barriers, and other cultural differences, we have discovered that sin impacts us all in the same way; separation from God!

    

We know that all that God created has been groaning. It is in pain as if it were giving birth to a child. The created world continues to groan even now. And that’s not all. We have the Holy Spirit as the promise of future blessing. But we also groan inside ourselves. We do this as we look forward to the time when God adopts us as full members of his family. Then he will give us everything he has for us. He will raise our bodies and give glory to them. That’s the hope we had when we were saved. But hope that can be seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? We hope for what we don’t have yet. So we are patient as we wait for it. (Romans 8:22-25)

So no matter where we find ourselves, at home or abroad, comfortable or uncomfortable, strange or familiar, we must represent Christ and share His message of reconciliation. Jesus would visit the rich, the poor, the old, the young, the sick and the healthy, and yes . . . even the different!

Everywhere we go we are on a mission . . .  the Great Co-Mission! (Matthew 28:18-20)