The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you’ » (Genesis 12:1).
I know what it’s like to do what Abram did—left everything familiar to follow what he determined to be an invitation from God. Years ago I climbed on board an airliner at San Francisco International Airport. After stowing my stuff in the overhead bin and fastening my seat belt, I sat for a long moment with my thoughts. Then I gasped. «Charles, what are you doing! “It had seemed to be a good idea at the time—take a break from college and spend a year as a student missionary teaching conversational English in Osaka, Japan.
But as I sat there, surrounded by strangers, listening to the mysterious sounds of the aircraft preparing to follow the setting sun westward, I wavered. I was leaving everything and everyone I cared about behind me—family, friends, my great job at the college radio station. Just then a little girl, maybe five years old, peeked at me from above her seat a few rows ahead. She smiled sweetly as if to say, «Hey, mister, are you going to fly in this airplane too? Isn’t it exciting? “Suddenly all my fears and uncertainties vanished. I wasn’t really leaving anything. Japan would be filled with people who could be my friends and serve as my temporary family for twelve months.
And all of them—perhaps even that little girl—needed to learn about Jesus. I settled back for the long flight. Yes, this was going to be exciting after all