Building Future- A Time for Everything

Whatever is has already been,
  and what will be has been before;
  and God will call the past to account.    – Ecclesiastes 3:15

Horizons, new frontiers. As individuals, certainly  we are blessed to experience both within our lifetimes. Perhaps on multiple occasions for most.

The same is not true for humanity as a whole. While new technologies emerge to “make life better,’ or “easier,” in the end, it is simply not the case. People are born, live their life and then the physical body dies and the soul lives on. Such is the case for everyone.

Wars have been fought endlessly since the very first war was waged. And within that war, like all wars, many battles were fought as a component of that war.

There have been just wars and unjust wars. Just battles and unjust battles. And for the most part, all wars are tragic in nature. When the first innocent person dies as a result of that war or battle, mankind loses something that can never be replaced.

In the end, and in retrospect, mankind makes a historical judgement on the battles and wars we have fought. Was the outcome worth the cost? The answer to that question is most often a matter of perspective. Regardless of personal perspective, most likely born of personal loss, there are some battles and wars that must be fought, if only as a matter of defense rather than conquest.

One such war we face, and again, it’s not the first time, is for the lives and souls of the millions of orphans and widows out there in the world. It’s a war that has been ongoing since the beginning. But it’s different now. It’s global in nature because technology has made the world a much smaller place.

It’s easy to see the difference. One only has to look at our borders to see the writing on the wall. Millions cross each year now. Some are looking for a better life. Some crossing with bad intentions. Either way, they are here to gain something they didn’t have where they came from. There was a time when their journey would have been impossible. There was a time when we wouldn’t even have known the plight of those who live in abject poverty, simply because they live in places far from here and their world is so much different than ours. But those days are over. We know. They know.

So how did it come to pass that a trickle of illegal immigrants has become a raging torrent, such that we cannot even keep track of the numbers? Who is at fault? Well, without getting too political, it’s plain to see that much more could be done within our government to stem the flow of illegal migrants. That being said, we also have to look at the root cause of it all.

While there are undoubtedly those who come here, not because they are poor, but because they are here to do bad things for which they will profit for themselves or the entity that sent them, they wouldn’t be able to do so if it weren’t for the masses of people they hide amongst.

This is a migration that will not end until laws are in place that at least slows it down, or something is done to make their home countries a better place to live. And thus, a new battlefront has emerged. It’s an old war, but the frontlines are our own borders. It’s not a war we can win here though. It’s going to take battles on many fronts in places far away.

What’s at stake? Lives. Souls. Even the prosperity and security of our own country.

Over the last three months, I told you a story of a nameless woman and two nameless boys, all living in abject poverty. Living a life without hope. Living a replica of many generations before them. They are surrounded by widows and orphans who live the same hopeless lives. I gave them no names, simply because they are everyone in every country where there are no resources available to lift them out of their hopeless situation and break the endless generational cycle of poverty and abandonment that they are trapped in.

It is a sad but simple truth that the poor cannot feed the poor. Those who do not know Jesus or God cannot teach others about what they don’t know. It all comes down to that simple truth. And when we are talking about millions of people who have children at a rate 1.5 times the rate of developed nations, it’s a battle we will eventually lose if drastic measures are not taken.

Simply put, we have to take action before the numbers outweigh the resources.

That is the battle that you and I are fighting right now through our work in these places. And it is a battle that we must not only continue, but expand while we still can. Every life is precious. Every soul is precious. You know that. It’s why you are a part of this.

Make no mistake about it. Even in a world war, there are truly only two sides. God is one side. Satan is the other.  Some wars are fought with bullets and bombs. Some are fought with love and kindness. Sadly both are necessary when Satan is involved. There is indeed a time for everything.

But there is a term used in war that I firmly believe in, given our mission. That is a preemptive strike. And in this case, I am not referring to bullets and bombs, but rather, love, kindness and God’s Word. If humanity had chosen this as the main weapon in warfare, the War would have been won long ago. But the nature of man is a sinful nature. And so, the war goes on.

Those who believe know that outcome. We know that God wins, and we can take comfort in that wonderful fact. But we also have no idea when that final battle will come and evil will be banished forever.

It’s in between now and then, that those of us who are able, must step forward and use the gifts that God has given us to fill the gap. He has put us here for a reason beyond the joys and trials of everyday life. We have a purpose. It’s not our purpose, but His.

His purpose is that as many souls as possible join Him in Heaven. Pretty simple concept. Except that it isn’t. Again, because of man’s sinful nature, here in the earthly realm, Satan has a lot of power, and like God, his primary resource is man himself.

Many times over the years I have referred to the exponential and generational impact that both good and bad have on the future. I personally believe that it has never been more true or obvious than this moment in time. We are on the summit of the potential for good and evil, equally, in terms of how they impact our future.

The reason I constantly bring up the generational and exponential factors, is because it is at the very core of God’s plan, as well as Satan’s. That is because the reason this war is endless and will only end when Jesus returns, is because we fight the battle to win souls for God each and every new generation. Satan gets a new opportunity every time.

But so do we.

I am not telling you anything you don’t know. This is more of a thank you than it is a call to action. Because you have taken action. It is also a way of reinforcing the fact that what we are doing together is fighting a battle against poverty, suffering and Satan.

Someone will win the hearts and minds of those who suffer. They will turn towards whoever it is that gives them what they need to survive. Let it be God that they turn to. Thank you for the love and kindness you show in your actions as we work together to save lives and lead souls to our Father. There is a time for everything. And this may be our time to fight this battle, but ultimately, the war and victory and all things that are good, belong to God and Jesus.