To Journey’s End

At one point in history crossing the ocean was a grand expedition. A new world and a new life awaited these brave voyagers at the end of their journey. However, many would pay the highest price for this new start as the dangers of the voyage would wash over the travelers like the ocean’s waves would batter their ships; debilitating sicknesses, starvation, the wrath of the elements etc. Of course this danger demanded technological advances that would allow for safer and safer travel to any destination, let alone those located over the vast oceans. So now a day, thanks to these wonderful inventions, you can sit on a jet plane for less than a day and arrive almost anywhere in the world with nothing more than cramped muscles, rare waves of turbulence, or a toddler’s cry to make you uncomfortable.

For those that are about to take that same journey across the Pacific or Atlantic … or Indian, most of you will think little about the flight and more about the destination. These same kinds of thoughts probably helped many to survive their passage when only sail and wind propelled them across the unfathomable distances. To those that are reading this blog and your heads are filling with dreams of studying Russian and living in Russian dormitories, the excitement of what God has in store can be mixed with uncertainty. These worries and fears can intermittently weave their way into the caverns of your cranium, interrupting your dreams like the defects in black and white films. Quite the strange mix of emotions can twirl around in your heart over the seemingly infinite time to arrival. With that said, the Great I Am says, “that I am with you!” The infinite God and creator of the universe will sit with you the length of the journey. And if that doesn’t help, and your imagination still needs a bit of a jump start, imagine for a second the legions of angles that escort your plane, or the fact that the lover of your soul, Jesus, is sitting in the same seat number as you and will soon be walking with you on the streets of the Former Soviet Union. Dream of His love and you will soon hear the flight attendant’s plea to put up your tray and chair in the upright position.

You my brothers or sisters in Christ, like those that have gone before you, are emissaries of the gospel. No pressure. No I mean it, no pressure. Our burden is easy, and yoke light (Matt 11:28-30). That’s right, you really have only one mission when you finally arrive on Russian soil, and that’s to do all that you can to keep your eyes on Christ Jesus. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness, and students will hear the gospel and come to know God personally. Diligently seek the Lamb and the alien surroundings you’ve stumbled into won’t be so alien. Seek and you will find Him. And whilst you seek, the beautiful story of your visit to Russia will unfold around you like roses bloom. So, don’t worry. It is your Heavenly Papa’s love that will bring you to journeys end. :)

-Next blog, I will attempt to describe, in my own special way, some of the things I remember from my first day in Russia, amongst other thoughts …