“Mooommm, are we there YET?”
“How much looonger?”
“Can’t you make the car drive faster?” “C’mon, go faster!” “Faster!”
You remember asking these questions when you were a child. Do you also remember that the trip had only started a few minutes earlier, and you still had hours left? A three-hour trip to grandpa and grandma’s house felt like eternity!
When you were on these endless car rides, you probably brought things along to help you pass the time. You read books, sang songs, took naps, played some games and listened to your favorite stories. Unless you had homework to do or an important topic to discuss, time spent on the road probably felt unproductive. You were simply passing the hours and minutes away.
Some of you are looking at the long journey ahead on the road trip of life. Ultimately, your desired destination is heaven. Along the way, finishing school, finding your first full-time job, renting your first apartment and feeding your pet goldfish are high on your priority list. And with good reason—all these activities are meaningful and can be very exciting (except maybe the goldfish).
But with these activities come a few questions: After that next big accomplishment, then what? Where are these accomplishments leading you and those journeying along with you? Do these activities help you reach your heavenly destination? Do they only serve to pass the time? Or is it possible that they lead you on an unwise detour?
When you think about how you choose to use your time, consider those things that will be eternally significant. Each day, you have a choice with how to spend your God-given gifts and those you develop as you adventure along the way. Don’t take a nap in the backseat while opportunities to serve and witness for Christ pass. Choose to serve God now, along all of life’s road, not just when you get to your next pit stop—by then, it might be too late.
Are we there yet? The simple answer: No. We are all waiting for Jesus to come back and for the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. Over three billion people are still waiting to hear about Jesus in their cultural context and language.
By using your skills and talents, you can make our aging vehicle, Model Earth Edition, start moving faster towards its ultimate destination: a rescue by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at His second coming (2 Peter 3:11-12). Don’t complain that we have not made it to heaven yet. Do something about it instead—now!—and help us all get there sooner.
Please contact us today at service@afmonline.org to start a new portion of your journey—the journey to service as a missionary of Jesus Christ to those who have not yet heard the good news.
