The Mission Field and the Home Court Advantage

So right now I'm sitting trying to decide how to best finish out my mission. Yes my friends, I understand it's coming to an end. I won't try to postpone it, but neither will I try to rush into it.

My mission truly has changed who I am and what I can do. In my life before the mission, I was not a very focused individual. That's not to say that I didn't know how to take tests or sit in a classroom, but rather, I had no direction. Now it's a little different. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior, that He loves me and that I won't have to digress to who I was.

So coming to the end of my mission I have contemplated the end of His mission. What was it that the Lord did as he ended His earthly ministry? Well, after being lifted up on the cross, he went to preach the gospel to those spirits in spiritual prison (1 Peter 3:18-20, see also 1 Peter 4:6). He continued to preach. After that, He was resurrected and helped guide the primitive church (Acts). After that, he was involved in preparing the world for the restoration of the gospel (Acts 3:10-21) and now guides His church upon the earth, preparing His second coming and advent in glory. So really, when His time to "take a break" or a "breather" came, he just continued working in this marvelous work. 

That is what I will be doing as well. Sure the place might change, but if what I have been preaching for the past two years is true (which it is) and I will be with those I most love and cherish, why won't I take that opportunity to help them come closer to Christ that this might be a journey taken together? Those I most love are those most deserving of this gospel and the blessings it has. I'll be thankful to be the instrument to help them come closer to Christ. 

Finding the Personal Faith in the Lord Jesus.

Recently I have been pondering upon the first principle of the gosple, faith in Jesus Christ. This is due to the fact that in a recent e-mail, I was informed that I would be giving a talk at church on the subject, but wherever the thought begins, I have enjoyed thinking about faith. What faith is, what it can do, and what it really means.

I have been feeling like faith is the great "so what" question that many people ask. As I have been talking to people about their faith, it seems that there are many that have faith in Christ, but when asked "what do you do with that faith?" many come very puzzled like "wait a moment, we're supposed to be doing something with that?" Yes, we can do something with it, and it's something that can be a supporting force as we go about through our day.

I know the drudgery of the days, but I know that there is a lot of ability to have a sense of optimism and joy even through the most rainy days. It comes from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the honest seeking to feel His presence in our life. Things such as prayer, scripture study, and church attendance are things we do with faith to feel closer to the Savior. Visiting others and helping them has no reward other than an uplifted heart of those that recieve the help and those that help. These are things that are not seen, cannot be bought or sold, and can often be nothing more than a fleeting feeling, but they are real, just as real as the tears of joy we shed when we feel the love of Christ. Tears are evidence, but joy is the feeling, the source.

When we strive to do the things Christ has asked of us, we will be able to fully feel of His presence, and we will no longer need faith to do things he wants us to do, but rather, we will know that it's a sure promise. That's what faith ultimately leads to, a knowledge, and a happiness that is not achieved any other way.

So here comes the "so what." You have faith, good. I hope you do, now, so what? What are you going to do with that faith? Are you going to help others? How about pray and honestly listen to see if God will speak back? Are you going  to go to church, and try to live a better life? Our faith will support us in these tasks, but we must do something about it. So let's go do something.