Radical

For the past couple of months Dwight Nelson has had a series of sermons called "The Radicals; This generation, This world, This time." In it is a challenge to be radical for God. The sermons that I have listened to have been incredibly thought provoking about what God wants to happen with our lives. I highly recommend listening to them (pmchurch.tv), but since I know that most people won't listen to them I am going to sum them up and perhaps add a little bit as well. Hopefully, I can convey the same message that Pastor Nelson does because it's enough to turn one's life completely around.

Abraham was one of God's radicals. At the age of 75, God called him to be the first missionary. At 75! Isn't that crazy? He lived in Ur of the Chaldees, which was one of the most affluent cities on the planet at the time. He had connections, family, and wealth. But God called Abram with these words, "Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) The call of God was enough for him to leave everything he knew behind and set out into the unknown. That is radical. He obeyed and God made him the father of a great nation. It took a while to see God working at that but Abraham trusted in God's promise. The three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) can trace back to Abraham as our father.  He obeyed God's radical call.

Stephen lived radically for God. He went up against the most powerful people in the nation. He was not scared to tell them the truth. God gave Stephen the words to speak before the Sanhedrin and they knew that he blew their arguments to pieces. That is why the stoned him. God's radicals may die but "great is your reward in heaven." Matthew 5:12

Paul/Saul was another who lived radically. First he fought against God and then for with Him. After Paul's call, he went out and lived one of the most radical lifestyles that I can think of. He faced death and prison, many times he travelled alone, and his travels took him all over the known world. He became a mighty worker because God called out to him and turned his life around. He left family, country, wealth and fame all for the call of God.

Here are a few statistics. The number of people living on this earth is supposed to reach 7 billion this year. 2 are dying and 4 are being born every second. There are 1.5 billion of these that will never be told about their Savior if we don't tell them. Those two babies that are being born each second may grow and toil through the trials of life only to die a hopeless death without the knowldge of a savior. They may not  have a hope of a better life because they have no opportunity. Their souls cry out form the farthest and most desolate places of the earth. Will their cry be answered or will it fall on deaf ears because we are caught up with our own lives and are not listening to God's voice calling? We can have all the excuses in the book. My family would not approve, I may loose my job, I have no skills that God can use. God can overcome all of these things. Our mediocrity and insignificance is God's chance to really use us. We cannot be used to our fullest if we fancy something in ourselves.

We are born in a blessed country and into a religion that has more light than any other. Will people continue to live in darkness while we enjoy the temporary blessings of our surroundings. God is calling each of us to be radical for him. That may be leaving family, country, or our daily comforts. He cares about souls not our temporary comfort. WE are debtors to the world.

 "So long as there is a human being who does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor to 

                           serve him until he does." Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest pg 54.

"[Romans 1:14]. So also are we. By all that has blessed our life above others, we are placed under obligation to every human being whom we might benefit." EGW, Education pg 139.

Because of our "blessed" status we owe it to the world. No, we are slaves to the world for the call of Christ.

Has God called you to the road you are walking right now? Are you sure? Are you willing to give up family, country, maybe even your hard earned career for the call of God? We may face dangers and at times fear for our lives but life with God is truly satisfying when we are answering the call of God. Life with God is high adventure my friends.

"We owe Christ to the world—to the least person and to the greatest person, to the richest 

person and to the poorest person, to the best person and to the worst person. We are in debt 

to the nations. Encompassed with this debt, though, in our contemporary approach to 

missions, we have subtly taken ourselves out from under the weight of a lost and dying world, 

wrung our hands in pious concern, and said, I'm sorry. I'm just not called to that.‟ . . . [But] 

what if the very reason we have breath is because we have been saved for a global mission . 

. . the very purpose for which [God] created us?” (David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream pg 74, 75)

The End (is it the beginning)