What Are You Willing Not To Do For The Lord?

Over the last forty years, I believe I have heard just about every excuse possible why Christ-followers cannot be faithful to weekly church attendance, cannot be consistent in sharing Christ with the lost or answering the call into fulltime ministry.

When local churches used to host evangelistic and revival crusades, I was fortunate to preach hundreds of them. During those years, I would ask Pastors to give me a list of names to call and invite to the crusade. I invited more than 10,000 Christians to attend the crusades over those years. As you can imagine, I got a lot of positive responses and also truckloads of excuses why he or she could not attend.

It’s just amazing to me when believers do not have enough courage or desire to attend their church when it is raining. Yet, these same believers have enough courage and desire to show up for work even though it is raining on Monday!

Yet, when I reflect and pray over the price that has been paid toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission, it moves me deeply, as I am sure that it moves you. We must continue to move forward. The risk is worth the reward. We call this finish2030

Adoniram Judson, America’s first missionary, left our shores more than 200 years ago. He and his wife first went to India and faced viruses, sickness and so much more. Then, they moved on to Burma, where he translated the Bible into the Burmese language. His translation is still considered the standard until this day! He buried his wife in Burma.

Missionary Judson served faithfully for 40 years in Burma. For a season he was in prison, but he did not give up. He also buried his second wife while serving this region. Then, when came time for his sail back to U.S., he died on the boat that was bringing him home.

Some years ago, I was fortunate to minister in Burma, while the communists were in control. While I was there, a key leader who I will leave nameless took me to Judson’s first church. Upon going inside, he took me to the stage in the auditorium. Along the top of the wall were 13 pictures of Judson’s first converts. The third convert was this key leaders’ great, great grandfather! He said because of Judson, all of his family members have been Christians.

When Judson’s body arrived in the U.S., he was buried in the Pilgrim Cemetery in Plymouth, Mass. I have taken my daughters there and have stood at William Bradford’s grave (the leader of the Pilgrims) as well as Judson’s grave. I have stood in their homes – including Bradford’s in Leiden, Holland, where the Pilgrims are from – and have stood where they were buried.

When Judson’s son gave the eulogy, he said, “If you are sacrificing without much success, it is because you are sacrificing for someone else’s success; if however, you have much success without much sacrifice, it is because someone has sacrificed for your success.”

I am so grateful that William Bradford did not say, “I am sorry brothers and sisters, I believe it is too dangerous to set sail in such a small boat, the Mayflower. I do not think the risk is worth the freedom of religion.”

Nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Leonard Sweet shared this story:

Some years ago, two seminary students were walking in the hallway, complaining about their upcoming summer internship. One said to the other, “I don’t like where I am going. I don’t like the pastor I will be working with.” The other student chimed in, with, “I know what you mean. I would rather do something else. I don’t do internships.”

These two students did not know that 30 feet behind them was walking a distinguished professor, who heard their conversation. He said to the two students, “I am grateful that Michelangelo did not say, ‘I don’t do ceilings.’”

With this in mind, I am grateful that:

William Carey did not say, “I don’t do India”

David Livingstone did not say, “I don’t do Africa”

James Hudson Taylor did not say, “I don’t do China”

John Paton did not say, “I don’t do cannibals”

Jim Elliot did not say, “I don’t do the unreached.”

Abel did not say, “I don’t do sacrifices”

Noah did not say, “I don’t do floods”

Moses did not say, “I don’t do wilderness wonderings”

Joshua did not say, “I don’t do Jerichos”

Barak did not say, “I don’t do battles”

Esther did not say, “I don’t do such a time as this”

Ruth did not say, “I don’t do Kinsman Redeemer”

Samuel did not say, “I don’t do anointings”

David did not say, “I don’t do goliaths”

Ezra did not say, “I don’t do temples”

Nehemiah did not say, “I don’t do walls”

Isaiah did not say, “I don’t do martyrdoms”

Jeremiah did not say, “I don’t do weeping”

Ezekiel did not say, “I don’t do prophecy”

Daniel did not say, “I don’t do lions’ dens”

Jonah did not say, “I do not do big fish”

Habakkuk did not say, “I don’t do hard stuff and hinds feet”

Mary did not say, “I don’t do virgin births”

Jesus did not say, “I don’t do crosses!”

Luke did not say, “I don’t do traveling”

Thomas did not say, “I don’t do India”

John did not say, “I don’t do Islands”

Peter did not say, “I don’t do upside down crosses”

Paul did not say, “I don’t do pain and prisons and beheadings”

Timothy did not say, “I don’t do followings”

Epaphroditus did not say, “I do not risk my life for the Gospel”

We enjoy todays’ successes because others have sacrificed before us. We must endure today so the next generation will go further than us. It is possible to Finish the Great Commission by 2030.

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