'While it is Day'

By Nigel Barham

Special to ASSIST News Service TORONTO, CANADA (ANS) -- John 9:4 says, "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day: The night cometh when no man can work." For more than 20,000 people in Myanmar, "day" ended this past weekend. According to Reuters, at least this number of people died in the category 3 cyclone that hit the nation on Saturday morning.

In light of this, I find John 9:4 troubling and inspiring at the same time. Troubling because this is real and time is short. Inspiring because it is still day for us, and God will use us if we let him.

Earlier this week I got an email from George Verwer, Founder of Operation Mobilization (www.om.org). In it he refers to the huge needs of the world and how much work needs to be done. He shares, "People have simple, nice spiritual answers, but [they don't work]. I keep praying and dreaming and hoping."

Friends, we are in a battle; and we need to have a sense of urgency. The turmoil caused by the cyclone in Myanmar is an example. Beyond that, people are getting slaughtered in Sudan and Congo. Christians' homes are getting burned down at the hands of extremists in Orissa, India. Children are dying in gutters in "Garbage City," Cairo. And, most significantly, millions desperately need Jesus Christ-"the way, the truth, and the life." Many have never heard his name.

How can one be happy about doing little when such needs exist? Should we not have a war-effort mentality in such times?

Or perhaps we find it difficult to connect with the needs in the first place. Let's be honest if so and ask God to help us care more. I for one am guilty of forgetting the needs, of being tempted to give a "nice, simple spiritual answer," and of getting discouraged - on an hourly basis.

But we are in a battle. And we are needed. And how much God uses us depends on how much we surrender ourselves to Him.

Love is our weapon.

For 50 years George Verwer, Founder of Operation Mobilization (www.om.org), has had a traveling assistant to help him with the logistics involved with his 300 annual speaking engagements. In 2007, this role was filled by Canadian Nigel Barham (shown right,) now 27. Son of missionaries in Zambia, Barham has been to over 30 countries and lived in five of them. He believes that because there is more response to the Gospel than ever before, we are living in some of the most exciting days in history. "God's Plan will happen with or without you and me," he says, "and how much God uses us depends on how much we have surrendered ourselves to Him." Nigel Barham currently lives in Toronto and is involved in several initiatives to reach this most diverse of cities for Christ. He supports himself through his online book business and can be found in the blogosphere at "www.nigelbarham.com."

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