Purposes, Plans, and Pursuits

Imagine with me for a moment the idea of time travel, as if that were possible. 

Zap! Uh! We did it. Imagine that. 

Checking the time log we find ourselves having gone way back in time to those biblical days of Noah, after the flood. Take a look around. Notice all the people -- multitudes: men, women, and children -- Noah's descendants. 

With the crowd, we now journey eastward and notice some of the people settling on a plain in Shinar, which is situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (that plain in later years is to become ancient Babylon, modern-day Iraq). There, we observe that the people purpose to build for themselves a city and a tower that would reach to the heavens.

We hear their reasoning, "Let's make a name for ourselves so we won't be scattered over the earth." But God also hears them and is saddened at what they desire to do, without regard for the desires of their Creator. "If as one people, speaking the same language, they have begun to do this," the Almighty reasons, "then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."

All of a sudden, there's a great confusion of speech -- a babbling -- and a scurrying about, shuffling here and there, each one scrambling to find someone s/he could understand. In groups, and tribes, and peoples -- nations of men, women, children -- they are scattered over all the earth.

Of a sudden we, too, find ourselves swept away to another time, to the New Testament era, hearing the words of Jesus, that He will build His church and nothing, not even the gates of Hell, will overcome it.

Continuing our travels through time, we find ourselves hundreds (or thousands ) of years beyond the days of Noah and the days when Jesus trekked the Promised Land. We are halfway around the world -- in the young nation of America. There, we watch for a moment as Marcus and Narcissa Whitman prepare to head West, zealous to work among the Cayuse Indians in the Oregon Territory.

The trip West is anything but easy, and not any better once they reach Oregon. There is land to be cleared, houses to build, and fields to plow. Much of Marcus and Narcissa's time was given to working the land. Being consumed with growing and harvesting crops leaves little time for their medical work, language study, and evangelism.

The Whitmans soon becoming prosperous farmers, Marcus succumbs to the grips of materialism. Narcissa, also, loses her excitement and zeal for their missionary work among the Indians, which drove them west initially. Having surrendered to such captivity, it is Whitman's plantation that suffers loss by a Cayuse massacre.

And God looked for a man and a woman who would zealously "stand in the gap," keeping their spiritual fervor, helping to build Christ's Church among the lost peoples of the world (see Ezekiel 22:30). God continues His search today.

Let us consider God's Classified: WANTED: Heroes (m/f). No experience necessary; we provide all skills, abilities. Committed persons of any age, gender, race, background, education welcome. Many positions open, with excellent blessings and benefits, guaranteed. A lifelong work, continuing onward till upward.

Perhaps more familiar are Jesus' words,
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need," (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

For Further Reflection -- encouraging family or small group discussion:
Genesis 11; Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20; Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-31.

Coming next month The Time Had Fully Come.