Where Are God's Men and Women?
by Bart Collins | May 31, 2008
"Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful even unto death? Where are those who will lose their lives for Christ's sake -- flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in his service? Where are his lovers -- those who love him and the souls of men more than their own reputations or comfort or very life?
Where are the men who will say 'no' to self, who take up Christ's cross to bear it after him; who are willing to be nailed to it in college or office, home or mission field; who are willing, if need be, to bleed, to suffer and to die on it?
Where are the men of vision today? Where are the men of enduring vision? Where are the men who have seen the King in his beauty, by whom from henceforth all else is counted but refuse that they may win Christ? Where are the adventurers, the explorers, the buccaneers for God who count one human soul of far greater value than the rise or fall of an empire? Where are the men who glory in God-sent loneliness, difficulties, persecutions, misunderstandings, discipline, sacrifice, death? Where are the men who are willing to pay the price of vision?
Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who, like Job of old, count God's Word of more importance to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses, commune with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend and unmistakably bear with them the fragrance of the meeting through the day?
Where are God's men in this day of God's power?"
- Howard Guinness, Sacrifice, pages 59-60
While in France, I was at a loss to answer a worker who asked me this exact question. I promised him I would ask this same question when I returned. Where are the men? Who is willing to reject this world, and embrace the cross? There are whole nations dying. Yet we comfortably prefer to pursue in our lives the things that THIS world treasures, and play blind to the glaring discrepancy in the world. People will not be persuaded to worship God because they see how wealthy, healthy, and prosperous Christians are. This will not impress them. What will convince them is when we embrace suffering as joy, counting loss as gain, and persecution as a sweet gift.
This world teaches the pursuit of wealth, health, power, success, fame, long life, nice houses, popularity, and self gratification are worthy. Jesus talked about being poor in spirit, mourning, being meek, hungering for righteousness, being merciful, being pure, making peace, being persecuted and insulted as the things worth rejoicing in. Yet we embrace the world.
Where are God's men? If given the choice today, would you choose a million-dollar house, a luxury car, a wonderful spouse, and plenty of money to burn, or the opportunity to become a martyr for the sake of Christ? Which do you desire more? How about the martyrdom of your children? Who will count that as gain?
Where are the men? We are in a great spiritual battle, and it is being fought largely by women. I am privileged to know a few of God's men and women. But fewer men than women. Men, let me give you permission. It is okay not to make a pile of money, to go into the world of business, medicine, law or agriculture and make your mark. It is okay to live in a small house, or rented apartment. It is okay to relocate your family or to "downgrade" your lifestyle. Christ is worth more. Who cares if men think highly of you or if they despise you. Christ is more.
Where are God's men and women who will reject the world and embrace the cross?
This world teaches the pursuit of wealth, health, power, success, fame, long life, nice houses, popularity, and self gratification are worthy. Jesus talked about being poor in spirit, mourning, being meek, hungering for righteousness, being merciful, being pure, making peace, being persecuted and insulted as the things worth rejoicing in. Yet we embrace the world.
Where are God's men? If given the choice today, would you choose a million-dollar house, a luxury car, a wonderful spouse, and plenty of money to burn, or the opportunity to become a martyr for the sake of Christ? Which do you desire more? How about the martyrdom of your children? Who will count that as gain?
Where are the men? We are in a great spiritual battle, and it is being fought largely by women. I am privileged to know a few of God's men and women. But fewer men than women. Men, let me give you permission. It is okay not to make a pile of money, to go into the world of business, medicine, law or agriculture and make your mark. It is okay to live in a small house, or rented apartment. It is okay to relocate your family or to "downgrade" your lifestyle. Christ is worth more. Who cares if men think highly of you or if they despise you. Christ is more.
Where are God's men and women who will reject the world and embrace the cross?
