THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

God has a very different value system than that which the world has.

In the early 1950’s, Jim and his young wife Beth set off for the mission field in South America. A brilliant linguist and scholar, Jim’s heart was to translate the scriptures into new languages and share the Gospel with unreached people groups. They lived in a small house near a remote river, with just a few other missionaries. After making significant progress learning the languages of the natives, they made a few halting efforts at sharing the Gospel. On their first overnight visit in one of the native villages, Jim and four of his missionary partners were brutally murdered by a group of ten Huaorani men. Jim was only 28 years old at the time of his death.

Many people would call the deaths of Jim Elliot and his young friends a tragedy, the waste of five good lives. But, that is not what God calls it.

Let me tell you about the tragedy of wasted lives.

Brian and Keesha (not their real names) pursued life in the financial fast lane for the first several years of their marriage. With fierce determination, they bought and sold, invested and saved, and for them, everything paid off. Before age 40, they had acquired enough cash and property to retire quite well. They made the Caribbean their home base, and started traveling the world. Most of their time is spent lounging on the beaches at their various oceanfront resort properties. In the moments when they’re not living the good life, they still run a business via the internet dedicated to teaching others how to get rich and retire early just like they did.

Now, THAT’S tragic!

On the one hand, consider five young men willing to “spend and be spent” (2 Corinthians 12:15) in joyfully rescuing people from hell as they display Christ for the eternal Treasure that He truly is. On the other hand, here’s a couple for whom the ultimate in success is to do nothing at all with the best years of their lives except teach others – at a handsome profit! – how to do nothing at all with the best years of their lives.

On October 28, 1949, just over six years before Jim Elliot was murdered, he wrote in his journal these amazing words that summarize God’s understanding of true success: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

All around us, even here in Northeast Colorado, are people who are just as much without the Gospel as were those Huaorani who murdered Jim Elliot and his partners. He was willing to risk everything for the sake of their souls. What are you risking for the sake of your neighbors who don’t know Jesus?

You don’t have to go far to be a missionary. Indeed, the mission field is all around you. What are you doing with the rest of your life?