The close dark

In the close dark, I pray. 

Struck by brilliant blue sky and bright sun sparkling on waves. 

While fog of spiritual deception cloaks hearts and minds.

This is the most helpless I remember feeling during our sojourn across cultures. 

Speaking gospel

My own ingenuity and communication skills appear empty. I’m speaking gospel. But no one is waiting to hear and hungry to know. 

No one is beating down the door to find Truth. 

“Without Me, you can do nothing,” becomes not just some verse memorized. 

But reality walked in. With feeling. 

In tangible dark.

Is it worth it?

“Having said this, I am certain that God wants His witness here—even if to be the watchman on the wall, crying out for the people to repent,” our friend writes in his journal.** 

Decades before. In this place.

And our voices continue speaking the message of hope. Even when no one responds. Or turns and follows.

Is it worth it? 

To keep going and proclaiming? 

Yes

Yes. For the one lost sheep. Found.

Yes. For seeds sown in blood, sweat, and tears. Even with no harvest in sight. 

Tilling hard ground with prayer and gospel by faith. Until that miracle moment. When seed takes root and grows. 

Bearing fruit. Some day.

In the close dark

In the close dark, we speak Light. Sing Truth. The Word of our Creator God who knows them. And has since before the foundation of the world.

The Almighty who so loves each one of these made in His image that He sent His only Son. So that any and all who believe in Him will not perish. 

But live true Life in Him. 

For ever and ever.

What about you?

Have you ever wondered if it’s worth it to keep sharing the gospel when there is little or no response?

Related

Unexpected – Sent ones – Pharaoh – Sent – Keep singing – 

John 3:16 – 1 Peter 2:9 – Luke 15:1-7

**Quote from Hu Addleton’s diary. Jonathan S. Addleton, Some Far and Distant Place (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1997), p. 97.