“The Caribbean islands boast exceptional beauty, but spiritual battles rage as voodoo and witchcraft still have a tight hold on many of the people” (Adventures in Missions, about the new Spanish route).
I’m sure my fellow World Racers are focused on fundraising at the moment–I certainly am–but amidst all the travel preparations, I don’t want anyone (including me) to forget that the Bible, most especially the Gospel, will be THE most important tool we have in the field.
Some historians believe the Apostle Paul was an Olympian, which would explain why there were so many sports references in Paul’s teachings (e.g. fight the good fight). Paul once admitted to his fellow disciple Timothy: “Physical training is good.” But he, Paul, went on to explain that spiritual training is “much better, promising benefits in this life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
The Caribbean is the first stop on our trip, and (as A.I.M. mentions) there will be people there who are entrenched in the occult. I doubt A.I.M. expects us to convert those people to Christianity right then and there. Even Paul couldn’t convince everyone to believe in Christ, despite all the miracles Jesus performed; but in order for us to speak the right words–the words that will plant the seeds God wants us to plant in each person we meet–HIS WORD must be fresh in our minds.
His Word. Then our words.
It goes something like this: We read the Bible. The Word of God enters our hearts and minds. When we need those words later, the Holy Spirit guides us and we speak the words we need to speak (so long as we have faith and continue humbly seeking Him).
That first step of simply reading the Bible is so vital. We may not always have food or medicine to give needy people in the field. We may not have access to certain things that we think they need. But we should remember that what they really need, above all other things, is the Lord God and Jesus Christ. And how do we come closer to God in order to bring Him closer to those people?
That’s right. His Word.
I have forever tried to rely on my own wisdom or the wisdom of those older and wiser than me. I have focused on what I thought about different matters, and it seemed logical to try and be philosophical, to strive for moral correctness–or what I’ve thought to be moral correctness–whenever offering advice or answering questions.
Then I realized I didn’t have to try to do any of those things. God IS all of those things. He is purely good, purely moral–His spiritual morality transcends societal morality, which is why He truly is PURE and GOOD to the very core. He is ultimately wise. He knows every single thing about every single person, and He knows the outcome of our choices before we even make them, thus rendering Him the best decision-maker in our lives and in the lives of those we help. His knowledge and wisdom is beyond anything we could possibly imagine. He IS the philosophy of life–maybe not the philosophy everyone follows, but definitely the philosophy everyone SHOULD follow. He is the epitome of righteous judgment. No one–not our parents, not their parents; not the most renowned philosophers in history nor the smartest scientists in the world can match Him.
His Word. Then our words.
So if we just read and meditate on God’s word–if we hide His Word in our hearts like David says (Psalm 119:10)–the right words will come to us when we need them. We may not see the end result of the seeds we’ve planted, but God does; and if we trust in Him–if we but seek His Word and step out in faith–rest assured people will receive exactly what they should have received from our conversations with them. Will they be saved? Will they feel the wonderful sense of fulfillment and wholeness we feel when the Holy Spirit is moving through us? We may never know those answers, but at least we’ll know that we’ve given them (according to God’s Will) enough information to make a choice. The rest is up to them and Him.
With that said, I’d like to ask you personally if any scriptures come to mind after reading what A.I.M. says about the Caribbean. I know witchcraft is discussed in Deuteronomy–I believe it’s referred to as “divination” in that book. If we all take time out to look into this a little bit (for example, Googling “where does it talk about witchcraft in the Bible” and sharing what knowledge we have from the Bible on this topic), we’ll be equipped when we encounter this situation and able to act upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
On a final note: I’d like to reference something else Paul taught, this time to the Ephesians:
“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:10-12).
He’s right. There are dark forces at work in this world, and as we try to bring people closer to God we may well encounter those forces that are trying to keep people away from the Lord. The occult is not of God. And as Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me” (Matthew 12:30).
This isn’t something to necessarily fear, just something to be aware of.
Hold fast to your faith, never wavering. For as James said, “a man with divided loyalty is as unstable as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind (James 1:6). Know that we may not be able to fight evil by ourselves, but God can, and He does. If ever in doubt, ask Him in Jesus’s name for help. He will compel you in what to do, whether you are safe or if you should remove yourself from a situation. He will give you the right words to say when you talk to people. He will guide all of us in everything we need, but it is our responsibility to prepare and equip ourselves with the right tools ahead of time.
His Word. Then our words.
I write this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
