One of the things I have noticed lately is the number of different worlds I encounter in my daily life. Let me give you some examples of what I mean.
One of the worlds in which I live is the BGCT world, where I probably spend the majority of my time. It involves relating to churches, associations, institutions, pastors, staff, committees and other individuals. It is a fascinating world that I really enjoy and a great place to do kingdom work.
Another of my worlds is my family world. That world is my refuge. It is sharing life with a loving wife, experiencing my grown children and welcoming new grandchildren into the world—a new granddaughter last month and a grandson due in July.
There is my church world. I am a church member and get to go to church when I am not involved with the BGCT world in another church. I really enjoy that time of worship when I am not responsible for any of the proceedings. We sing in the choir, go to Bible study and visit with Christian friends.
As I travel the state, I run into a lot of different worlds. The world in East Texas is different than the cotton farms of West Texas. The world in Houston is different than the world in Dallas and San Antonio. Austin is a world of its own.
Some people I visit with tell me I live in an artificial bubble world called the Baptist world. My kids tell me it is different from the “real world” that surrounds me. Perhaps that is so.
What I do know about all these worlds is that none of them is really home. In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul reminded us our citizenship is in heaven. Jesus reminded us he has prepared a place for us, a home for us in heaven.
So where does all this lead? We live in a world of worlds. Almost everyday, we hear the stories of those worlds.
Frankly, there is not a lot of hope expressed in most of those stories. As believers, we have hope that is not governed by time. We have the eternal hope that is ours in Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Christ, there is never a hopeless situation or a hopeless world.
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That’s good news. It is good news for all who are believers. It is also good news to countless worlds where the hope of Christ has not been heard. There are more than 2,000 unreached people groups across our world. We are “ambassadors for Christ” to them. We have been called to share the hope of Christ to all the worlds we touch and that touch us.
That is the challenge we have as Christians. But more, it is an awesome opportunity to share our Lord with the worlds around us.
Let’s join together to reach all our worlds.
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