Last Lessons #9 – GO

 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

When my husband Bob, my two-year-old daughter Annie, and I sailed out of New York harbor for Africa we passed by the Statue of Liberty. It was quite an emotional and scary experience. We were leaving our country, our families, our friends, and everything familiar for a four-year term expecting to live in Tanzania for the rest of our lives.

It was 1957 and I was 28 years old.

All I knew was that God had called Bob and me to be missionaries in Tanzania, East Africa. Bob was a doctor and would be working for our first term at a hospital in rural Bumbuli. I was a teacher, but my goal was to help people know God. Of course, I had no idea how to do that, so I would be doing anything I was asked to do along with caring for my husband and daughter.

I have learned that we never know ahead of time what our calling will entail. What I did know was that the medical needs in Tanzania were great, so Bob would have plenty to do. I also knew that my heart was set on helping the Africans know God but before I could do that, I had to learn much from the Africans. That’s another story for another time.

Our scripture tells us that if God has called us to go somewhere (even to Africa!) he will be with us. That’s his promise and we can be sure he will be faithful to that promise.

People, including some family members said to Bob and me, “How can you make such a sacrifice – especially sacrificing your children?” But going to Africa was not a sacrifice. I am here to tell you that it was not only not a sacrifice, it was the greatest adventure of our lives. We never regretted it. Not that it was easy, but we were living the abundant life and that life is always exciting.

But to experience this exciting life we have to actually GO! We go to wherever God sends and we trust him for the rest. That’s what faith is all about.

God may not be calling you to GO, but if you can’t GO, then SEND. Matthew 28:19 is for all Christians. We are to do what we can to make disciples of all nations, to spread the gospel throughout the whole world. And we had better hurry if we want to be a part of this great commission because Matthew 24:14 tells us that when all nations have heard (and most have heard now!), then the end will come.

That will be the day! Hallelujah!