WHOA! WOE! OR GO!

Someone recently said to me, "What if something happens to you when you go on mission to Haiti?" To which I replied, "What if something happens to me and I don't?" If we truly believe in the eternal "go" of the Gospel, then whether here, Haiti, or Hattiesburg, our physical location will not determine our demise. Paul was clear about the believer's death: Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Romans 6:8 (ESV) "If we have died..." are key words in knowing that "we will also live with Him." The location on the globe becomes secondary to obedience to the eternal "go" of Christ.

Below, there is an excerpt from a book I highly recommend by David Platt that is appropriately named Radical: Taking back your faith from the American dream, available in TVCC's Connections Book Store in the main lobby. It addresses this "what if" scenario.

John Paton sensed God's call to go to "New Hebrides, a group of Pacific Islands filled with cannibalistic people and no knowledge of the gospel." Paton wrote, "Amongst many who sought to deter me, was one dear old Christian gentleman, whose crowing argument was, 'The Cannibals! you will be eaten by Cannibals!'"

John Paton replied to this man, "Mr Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer."

The old man left the room exclaiming, "After that I have nothing more to say!" (Radical: Taking back your faith from the American dream, by David Platt).

The more we "go" the more we understand the agenda of the ages. The Bible is clear, "Go ye therefore. . ." I believe our response is equally clear before God:

"WHOA! I can't do that!"

"Woe is me; my heart is undone - God change my heart!" or . . .

"Go!" Whether across the counter, the street, or the world it matters not, for:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

Join us this weekend as we continue our Christmas series, An Unexpected Christmas. Part 3 is The Label Makers and you won't want to miss it! Keep inviting others and let's pack out the house this weekend as we expect God to do great things at TVCC. Remember the new service times:

*8:00 Classic Worship - A more traditional style of worship with hymns & special music

*9:30 & 11:00 services are TVCC's contemporary music style

Whatever your style, come expecting great things from God as we enter this wonderful time of year when we celebrate Christ's birth.

Be at The Unexpected Christmas place this weekend!

Pastor Steve