Around this time of the year, I would probably be on a flight home, driving home, or already home. My mom would probably be cleaning my room, getting it ready for my arrival. Daddy and I would probably be scheming up some plan on what to do for mommy’s birthday. We would be stocking up on ingredients for a yummy meal, and buying some last minute presents. With all these things just right around the corner, my heart aches at the thought of not being with my family. I can’t think of one Christmas that we didn’t have together. This holiday season I’ll be halfway across the world from them, separated by thousands of miles.

I’m tempted to pity myself. But then I think of the people I live with. My heart begins to ache too—not for me, but for them. My heart aches at their constant fear of the spirits controlling them. It aches at the thought of not being in heaven with them. It aches at even the slightest idea of not spending eternity with them at Jesus’ feet. I can’t even stand to think that they maybe didn’t even have the chance to say yes to Jesus, because nobody told them. And imagine my heart, what about the heart of Jesus! His ache extends much farther than mine, for my people group is just one out many who have yet to hear His message of love and eternal salvation for them.

Perhaps one Christmas away from my family is not so bad after all. Perhaps it’s worth such a minor sacrifice. I mean, Jesus sacrificed all. He left His Father’s home for 33 years, to work among us, toiling night and day, supplying an example for His people to live, and ultimately giving up His life for our salvation. My heartache isn’t really that bad after all. It’s just one Christmas.

I’m grateful that this holiday season is not just a celebration of Christ coming down as a babe, but it is also a remembrance that He is coming back. He promised, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would’ve told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. For where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:1-3. For this reason, we must work harder than ever. God has promised us that He is preparing a place in heaven for us! There are still so many who have yet to be reached. They don’t know that Jesus is preparing a place for them. They don’t have that blessed assurance that there is a God that loves them more than they could know. Will you work with me in reaching those who have yet to know this precious message? Who have yet to experience this love and grace?

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