What follows is my last journal entry from my sojourn in India. It was actually written on 20 July 2007 on the Emirates flight from Dubai to New York. I have recorded that I was somewhere near the coast of St. John’s, Canada at approximately 12:30 EST.
I’ve been meditating more these past few months on the work of God’s children in the present age. What does it mean that we participate in the ministry of reconciliation? What does it mean that in Jesus Christ’s death there was a completion of our work under the law and in His resurrection there was a beginning of this new work for the coming redemption and salvation. What does it mean that the kingdom is among us and within us while we are yet awaiting the return of the King? What does it mean that we are more than conquerors in the world? What does it mean that creation is groaning in painful anticipation of the revelation of God’s children? What does it mean that the curse remains while the power of the Holy Spirit, who can break the curse, dwells within me?
India has stirred many questions and passions within me. I will post more later concerning the details and events of my travels.
God bless you.
It is not easy to sum up in words my thoughts and emotions concerning this trip to India. Autumn and I have had uneventful flights, and now we’re both very silly with sleepiness. At the end of it, my tiredness from travel notwithstanding, I am renewed, refreshed, and encouraged. I will most probably speak, even preach, at Bath Baptist this Sunday, visit with friends in New York, and have my dear friends Tim and Tanya greet me in Baltimore on Sunday evening, and then I’m back to work on Monday! Praise God. My co-workers at those several workplaces will be intrigued by my report, I’m sure. And as soon as I am able, I will begin transcribing this journal, writing for my two supporting churches, and writing some articles and literature for Jaipaul and Hope for India. Autumn and I will debrief and discuss those things when we land in New York, if we aren’t too tired to think.
Renewed, refreshed, encouraged. God, I think, has done as much for my ministry in America as He has blessed India through me, and perhaps more.
I’m preparing a short sermon to share tomorrow if I need it. God has blessed my heart with brokenness for what Dr. Yohannan calls “the Two-Thirds World.” I was reading Revelation 22 earlier in this trip and wept over the first passage. For a land wherein most rivers are open sewers of human waste, the vision of a river that runs as clear as crystal is a powerful and awe-inspiring promise. I read through Revelation two days ago to record the various promises of the visions and meditate on how they relate to—that is, contrast—the conditions of the present age, especially those in India. How great is our God, and how wonderful are His promises and His plan for redemption! My hope is that the Spirit will minister both through the written promises in the Scriptures and bringing attention to the desperation of this present age for the fulfillment of our commission as ministers of the gospel. How long until the rivers run clear with pristine, living water? How long until our labor ends? How long until our tears are wiped away forever?
And the really important question for our own consciences is not how long God may delay, because His delay is a forebearance and a blessing to people beyond number; but instead, we must ask, How long until the children of God rise in unity to preach the gospel to all creation, and to fulfill their work for the kingdom of heaven on earth?
I’ve been meditating more these past few months on the work of God’s children in the present age. What does it mean that we participate in the ministry of reconciliation? What does it mean that in Jesus Christ’s death there was a completion of our work under the law and in His resurrection there was a beginning of this new work for the coming redemption and salvation. What does it mean that the kingdom is among us and within us while we are yet awaiting the return of the King? What does it mean that we are more than conquerors in the world? What does it mean that creation is groaning in painful anticipation of the revelation of God’s children? What does it mean that the curse remains while the power of the Holy Spirit, who can break the curse, dwells within me?
India has stirred many questions and passions within me. I will post more later concerning the details and events of my travels.
God bless you.
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