Dans le monde, cette semaine

It's all happening in the world this week.

Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam:
A typhoon called Ketsana causes severe flooding, leading to the death of hundreds and the homelessness of hundreds-of-thousands. Another, named Parma, is shortly expected to strike.

And how many of these who died do you think trusted in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour?
~

Indonesia:
In Padang, on the island of Sumatra, an earthquake results in over 1000 lives lost.

Again I ask, how many of the dead had put their trust in Jesus?
In a nation such as this where practical Islam is on the rise?
~

Italy:
A mudslide on the island of Sicily takes another 13 lives for certain, more not yet reported.

How many dead, but with hope in Jesus, in this culturally Roman Catholic nation?

Oh, sure, the death toll's nowhere near that of our Asian neighbours, but don't you think God cares about the death of every human being made in His image who will not acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord and the judge of all humanity?
~

Samoa and Tonga:
A tsunami ensures the death of over 100 people in the Pacific. Including two Australian females. My own countrywomen.

How many who died did not truly perish but have eternal life - because of believing in Jesus the Son whom God gave out of His love for the whole world?
________________

My heart is sad and wonders why it isn't sadder.

Why am I still here in this rich, resourceful, reasonably trouble-free and tragedy-free nation?

While unsaved people in other nations SUFFER and DIE in natural and other disasters?
..And, moreover, since they face God's judgment for rejection of Him, with no hope in the risen Lord Jesus Christ to save them from eternal condemnation?
(HEBREWS 9:27 and JOHN 3:36.)

Oh, yes, I can give money as aid to the regions/peoples affected. Even when unemployed. That's easy.

Yes, I can ask God to intervene so that in spite of 9 months' unemployment, a here-and-there CV and a chronological age of 32 years + 2 weeks, I might get a job, start earning a regular income again and be enabled to give even more money as aid. That's still pretty easy.

Yes, I can pray for the survivors, begging my God and Father to sustain His fallen and groaning creation. Still somewhat easy.

But surely there is more I could be doing to draw people out of spiritual darkness and into the wonderful light of Christ - towards the precious blood of Christ, the only thing which makes any human right before God, acceptable to Him, and rescued from the coming final judgment? ..no matter whether they live or die? Tragically or at a ripe old age?

People all over the world - not just in the nations mentioned - need to know the good news of Jesus. Otherwise they are LOST.

Who is going to tell the lost among the nations about Jesus, if we all just stay here in the English-speaking West?

Why do we wish, advise, demand, that our children (Christian and assured of salvation and eternal life) stay here and continue to pursue successful working careers and a comfortable, financially secure future?

Why do we refuse to let them go, to let them tell those who are perishing in their rejection of God the Son about the hope and the future God the Father has planned for them (JEREMIAH 29:11) if only they trust in the Lord Jesus?

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life,
but the wrath of God remains on him."
(JOHN 3:36)

I live in relative comfort and security, and with full assurance that God is mine and I am His, because of the Lord Jesus my Saviour who shed His blood for me His enemy.

While outside of this country, hundreds, thousands, millions of others DIE and are eternally condemned because they have so little knowledge or hope in Jesus, God's chosen Judge and King.

I can hardly bear this. It brings me to tears.
Let me weep.
And let me GO!

L/T.