Why Pursue? A Disturbance in Perspective

This is the second post in a series exploring the idea of Pursuing others and building relationships.  Check back each Thursday for more. For the whole series, click here.  

This week, some visitors came to my small group.  My plan was to leave a little early, but I became entranced by their call to be missionaries in Papua New Guinea.  In a nutshell, their function would be a supporting role to the missionaries out in 'the bush'.  This may not sound like a big deal, but let me recount what I learned about Papua New Guinea.

Imagine a big island with 6 million people, and Hawaii-like jungles.  Now, take out all infrastructure, and rewind history to when people were separated into tribes; precisely 865 small bands of people, with a distinct language, living in an equatorial jungle.  That's Papua New Guinea.  There are currently 320-ish tribes living as animists, cannibals, or both, unreached.  

Back in the day, the first missionaries to go to the jungles were killed.  But, a second group was invited to live with a tribe.  They learned their language.  They shared the gospel.  A church was built.  Disciples were made.  And more missionaries went to more tribes.  Now, the husband that talked with us would provide construction of houses in each village, while the wife will work as a nurse to the missionaries.  They are committing four years of their life to simply support the missionaries living among the tribes.  

What possible motivation would it take for a couple to commit this amount of time and effort, losing all 21st century comforts, just to help people who are visiting villages?  

-------|     |     |-------

I didn't walk away that night with a call to be a missionary.  But, my perspective was severely challenged.  I realized there are some KEY issues that I may 'say' I believe, but my actions prove me wrong.  What I saw in the young couple was that they DID believe these things.

1. Without the gospel, people who die will be in Hell. Forever.  
If I truly believed this, wouldn't the gospel be the only thing I ever talked about?  They are going to Papua New Guinea to literally save people from Hell.


2. ... and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  (Acts 20:35)
I have found I like to receive, and take for myself... Meanwhile they are giving a huge amount of time and effort for people they've never met living in a jungle.

3. We are sojourners here.  
My lifestyle does not reflect this - I'm digging in, building up my nest.  They are living with eternity in mind, knowing that no treasure here lasts, and that people are eternal

-------|     |     |-------

Wow, so that wasn't really where I thought this post would head, but I want to close with one final piece of motivation: your own story.

I am scared to think of the person I would be if it wasn't for someone who pursued me for Christ.  After years of attending church, I finally understood the gospel because my youth minister pursued me, and formed a relationship with me.  Without him or someone else pursuing me for Christ, I would NEVER have chosen God's way.

But, he did find me.  Someone formed a relationship with him, and before them another... all the way back to the disciples and Paul, telling everyone... even back to Jesus himself, pursuing others for His Father.

With this legacy behind us, isn't it our turn to pursue others for Christ?

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." 

(Luke 10:2-3)