I have been thinking a lot lately about our sin nature and how our obedience or disobedience to the Lord impacts not just our lives and the lives around us, but it also impacts the world. What? You don't think so...
A couple of years back I read a book on the life of Francis & Edith Schaeffer. "The Schaeffers intended to obey God always, but that did not make the decision to go to Europe easy. In 1948, on the last Sunday Francis Schaeffer preached as the pastor of the Bible Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Edith Schaeffer prayed and wept over his decision to leave the pastorate and become a missionary overseas." Edith struggled and didn't feel called to go to Europe. Her husband on the other hand felt the Lord leading them to there. In the end Edith went only because she was called to be her husband's helpmate. Think about the lives they touched while they were in Europe. Those lives would have never been touched without Francis and Edith Schaeffer's obedience to follow the Lord at all costs.
On 8/22/98, I was in Vermont with some strong Christian friends while reading the biography of the Schaeffer's. We were up late one night, and I shared with my friend Blake the struggle Edith had to follow her husband to Europe. Blake was surprised and told me the Schaeffer's impact on his family's life. The home we were stayed at in Vermont and the group of people that were gathered were a direct result of Fran & Edith's obedience to God. Blake's mother was saved in Switzerland under the Schaeffers home bible studies. As a result, Mrs Silver shared her desire of in-depth bible study with her son. Later in life, Blake started the YAF fellowship/Bible study that I attended. Blake was saved as a result of Edith's obedience and hundreds of lives were changed thru YAF as a result of Blake's teaching - lives Edith never met...
Let me guess... you are thinking "but God could use someone in my place." Hmmm, that may be true but think about it in the opposite light. Our sin does not just impact ourselves but impacts our family and friends and believe it or not impacts lives we may never even meet or even think it would impact. God even says in His word that our obedience and disobedience effects our generations to come.
People make real choices, and these choices make a real difference in history. We each write our own autobiography by the choices we make and the things we do. A Christian life it is not about being happy, but it is about being faithful, loyal and true to the Lord. We need to obey Christ in everything, from a real heartfelt love for Him. Obedience to Christ will cease to be a burden and becomes a joy when one's life is surrender to Christ.
Just food for thought...
