How My Experiences Drew Me Closer to God

It's amazing how much more worshipping God becomes once you have seen how people live without hope. In Japan, people lost everything. They lost loved ones. Many still have friends and family unaccounted for. Their homes are destroyed, their belongings washed away. Many people will die in temporary housing. And they don't know Jesus. They are so hopeless and lost. How can your heart not ache for them? In Thailand, people have never heard of Jesus. They are enslaved to Buddhism and all that the religion entails. Most can't even reject Jesus because they don't know who He is. I cried when I realized I may never see some of my Thai friends again...for all eternity. In Malaysia, the government controls the people. Racial tensions and prejudice prevents the Chinese and Indian Christians from telling the Majority (the Malay) about Jesus. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese Religions blind people to the truth. For those who want to turn away from Islam and accept Jesus, they face extreme persecution, punishment, rejection, and even death. In Jordan, mosques and calls to prayer are ever reminders of how lost the people are. In England, the church is dying.

I have a loving, God-centered family. We have freedom of religion. I can share my faith legally. I can worship God without fear of death or imprisonment. I don't say I'm lucky. I don't even want to say I'm blessed. Why should I stay here while so many people around the world are lost and suffering? Yes, there is need here, but I can't help but think of those people who I've met all over the world who don't know Jesus. Their salvation is the only thing that matters.

When I listen to music, I've always paid attention to the lyrics. But since being exposed to such depravity, lostness, and hopelessness, the words have come alive even more so. "Every tongue, every tribe, every people, every land giving glory, giving honor, giving praise unto the Lamb of God." "Purifícame..." "At the top of my lungs I will sing Hallelujah..." " We'll sing it out to let all the world know that Jesus saves..." "I wanna live with a fearless heart..." "God loves people more than anything..." When there are people you know and love who don't know Jesus, how can your heart not break for them? How can you not at the very least, pray for them if not share the love of Jesus with them?

We know that in the end, every person will bend a knee in worship of Jesus. We know that in the end, God wins and Satan is defeated. Satan has no hold on us. We are free in Christ. Our worship should not be something that brings us shame. People all over the world would love to be able to worship freely. Why are we so ashamed to be in love with Jesus? If Jesus saves people and brings them eternal life and a restoration, a life apart from sin, why don't we share it more? Why aren't we out there proclaiming it loudly on the streets? Are we so afraid to be laughed at or have people get offended? There are people out there being cut off from their families, going to jail, and even being killed for their faith. If we have the freedom here to share our faith, why don't we exercise that freedom?

Every stanza, every line, every word from songs I listen to are a reminder to me of the One that loves me. I have surrendered my life. I have given it over to God to use as He pleases. Worship has come alive even more so knowing that I am free, I am saved, and God is the one that frees the captives, no matter where they live, what they've done, who they are. Don't ever take Jesus for granted.

"I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams. Though the price to follow cost me everything, I surrender all my human soul desires. If all my kingdoms fall, I surrender all...Everything I am, all I've done and all I've known now belong to You, the life I live is not my own. Just as Abraham laid Isaac on a sacrificial fire, if all I have is all You desire, I surrender all..."