December 10th, 2022 – 12:17pm – Haifa Hostel, Haifa, Israel:

The summation of my journey is simply this: how Jesus had the victory over me. Jesus said that the whole of the Scriptures found their full fulfillment in Him. He is the Word. He is the way, the truth, and the life. All, all of life is about Him. Every knee bowing and every tongue confessing He is King of kings, Lord of lords, Master, and all.

I was one way, and now I am another. And in between was Him.

Listen? Can you hear it? The Word made flesh…

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

“I walked out to the hill just now. It is exalting, delicious, to stand embraced by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coattail and the heavens hailing your heart, to gaze and glory and give oneself again to God—what more could a man ask? Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth! I care not if I never raise my voice again for him, if only I may love him, please him. Perhaps in mercy he shall give me a host of children [i.e., converts] that I may lead them through the vast star fields to explore his delicacies whose finger ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see him, touch his garments, and smile into his eyes—ah then, not stars nor children shall matter, only himself.

O Jesus, Master and Centre and End of all, how long before that glory is yours which has so long awaited you? Now there is no thought of you among men; then there shall be thought for nothing else. Now other men are praised; then none shall care for any other’s merits. Hasten, hasten, Glory of Heaven, take your crown, subdue your kingdom, enthrall your creatures.” – Jim Elliot, the last thing that he wrote in his journey before being martyred.

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others]. In this way storing up for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:18-19 AMP

Today, as I sit in this hostel still getting over this flu or cold that has been going around, I have been talking to God about success and failure in the kingdom. I am convinced that neither exists. Neither success nor failure in our spiritual journeys as followers of Jesus. You do not win or lose… sure in some aspects of running the race to win the prize as Paul expresses it… but I am sure that what He was expressing was not what my American culture defines as success and failure. The values of the Kingdom of God are opposite from the values of modern American.

We can not boast about anything when we arrive home in heaven, nor will anything be held against us since all our weakness and mistakes are covered under the blood of Jesus.

“…that idolatry is treating good things as if they were ultimate things.” – C.S. Lewis

Memento Mori. It means, “remember that you must die.”

The thought strikes me… I was not created to understand that which I was called to but to simply listen and see and write what I hear and see.

“If anyone imagines that he knows and understands anything [of divine matters, without love], he has not yet known as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved].” – 1 Corinthians 8:2-3 AMP

So I press on in my own personal journey through this life with my God leading the way.

My life is not about survival, nor about thriving, nor about planting, nor about legacy, but simply this: Jesus made known anyway, in every way, to everyone possible.

God said He was going to make me a spectacle. And I would say that He has already done that. Hidden in my books are His words. Hidden in my books are the glimpses of eternity. Hidden in them are the secrets of the vast wealth of who He is. And this is just the beginning of what He has planned.

To the outside observer one might think I am simply sitting in a hostel in Israel waiting to return to the USA… but they don’t see what I see. God is at work everyday and in every way to make Himself know to others. And He has me right where He wants me.

Let the testimony of this fool speak of His greatness and wonder until my last breath ceases.