Hot Vegas, Sleepless Nights

     Here we are into a week of our scouting trip. I am sitting in Las Vegas hoping to not melt as it is 102 degrees. The transition to camper life has been difficult, but manageable. We have been very busy not only traveling from Indiana to here, but scouting the areas and figuring out the best most efficient way of living in this box with 5 other people. Especially when two of them like to scream and cry about everything.
     The good news is that every community I have scouted so far has brought forth great potential for our future evangelistic efforts and working with established churches. In fact so much so that it is a bit overwhelming. My heart is heavy over the fact that I must move on so soon rather than simply stay in these areas and proclaim Christ to the people. Knowing that not only are these communities ripe for the harvest, but so are the many towns and cities that surround them and I am only one.
     However, here are my sleepless nights, here are the yearnings of my heart. Why are we not reaching these people? Where are we in our efforts to be the light and gospel to the people of our own nation. In Acts it says that those early Christians and apostles were daily in the temple and many were added to them. They were not in the temple, I believe, for religious reasons as the veil had been torn and the temple rendered futile. I believe they were there for the means of spreading the gospel, for this is where the people of that day gathered to purchase items, be taught things about God and in their religion continue in the sacrifices and offerings.  It is my absolute belief that all those who know Christ and are inheritors of eternal life are agents of the reconciliation. This means that we should all be active participants in ministering to, loving, and guiding the lost. Guiding them back to their Creator, reconciling them to the one who loves them. I go back and forth on this election issue of those who were chosen of God to receive salvation through both scripture and my philosophical notions. But regardless of whether God chose the elect completely or they had some small part in the choosing of their faith then it still comes down to the simple act of obedience on our part. We are to be a light unto the world, we are to be these agents of reconciliation. We need to be praying for the lost and the ministers to them. We need to be praying that the light of God would shine forth through us and reach the spiritually dead.
      So my sleepless nights, my daily yearning will not cease until the Lord comes back and makes things right. My heart will remain heavy until I see we the agents of reconciliation actually performing our mission. Give up the things of this world, the distractions of life and spring forth ready to suffer through your Hot Vegas and your Sleepless Nights.