Aloha 'Oe...A Hui Hou

Well, Fall passed by and now Winter is here. Lower temperatures slowly creep in after being under a heat-lamp for a while; well kind of, not in Hawaii, it’s year-round summer and it’s driving my wife crazy. Nonetheless, the harvest seems to be celebrated everywhere around this time of year (yes, even in Hawaii). From pumpkin patches, cornfields to sunflowers, the work of the laborers finally pay off for our enjoyment. I don’t have a green thumb but I do know that a ton of work goes into working the lands to grow an abundance of produce. To all my farmers out there, THANK YOU.

As my time in Hawaii seems to be coming to an end, I was reminded of a hard truth that challenged my need for comfort. In the 12 years of military service and multiple moves, I didn’t mind moving around as much until I got to Hawaii. It's not the beaches or the Island that makes it so hard to say goodbye, it’s the family we made here. Just the thought of leaving hurts. Tanya and I like to think that we built a community here were people and strangers became family. We have seen the ugly, we've been through tragedy, we've dealt with pain, hurt, and loss. We even celebrated marriages, graduations, baptisms, and people coming to faith. So, how am I supposed to leave now?

The fact that our family is being relocated back to the mainland wasn't the hard truth I had to be content with, it was the fact that Jesus calls us out of our comfort zones to spread the gospel message. Now, this is supposed to be good, right? Of course, but my selfish soul wants to stay in this paradise! Who wouldn't! Minus the fact, it's super expensive to live here, but Hawaii is where I feel at home. But this isn't the mission God has for the Vega family. I believe God strategically anchors people in certain locations to minister to others and He also uses others to travel around the world to accomplish a more missional work. Does He want that from all of us, I believe so. The great commission was to go out and make disciples of all nations. But if everyone was moving around, what stability would there be if there were no leaders in the local area to strengthen the communities God has called them to? Here are some truths that I was reminded of (perhaps, maybe you could help remind me of more and encourage me in my time of traveling to a new location):

The harvest is ready everywhere

In Matthew 9:37, Jesus, having compassion for the helpless crowds said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest." I guess I can end it there, huh? If you are a follower of Jesus, this verse is one that comes to mind often when reaching out to others. Just the thought of people not knowing the God of peace and love should be burdensome. But here was my argument to God, like I even had one, "But there are people here, I can still be used here." After God chuckled a bit and said, "yeah, but you're still going" it took me a while to be just okay with His will (Ask my wife, it was a rough three days, haha). But look at Jesus' statement here, Jesus couldn't reach everyone physically, it was going to take many laborers, many believers, to carry on the message of the gospel across the world. As a result of these words, we have Christians throughout the globe, even in parts where people are being punished and executed for being Christian. I firmly believe that God kept me in the military for a reason. I never would've thought that I would be in this long, but here I am. During that time God has done great things in my life and he is refining me for a purpose. I honestly think this wouldn't have happened if I didn't answer His call and go. I never would've had the opportunity to help teach the scriptures or help someone openly and publicly express their faith through baptism. These few things were great to experience and such a great way to glorify God, but why stop in one area. I have the opportunity to travel, spread the gospel, and build a community that loves and follows Jesus. OH, THE JOY to have the ability to build and be part of a family on a global and national scale. The harvest is plentiful in many regions, LORD God please help me to be a laborer of love for you. To be able to show and teach who you are, a loving and jealous God for His people. But change my heart first God.

Not to stay in one place, go

Let's back up some to Matthew 8:19-20. This was one verse that stuck with me and really hit home. "And a scribe came up to and said to him, 'Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." BRRRAAAHHH!!! Tear my heart out now! I love when my strong will is rebuked by scripture leaving me in a puddle of my own tears of humbleness. I was just like the scribe boldly declaring my allegiance to the King...until he told me to leave the comforts of my home. The scribe said, "wherever you go, I'm there!" It's funny that the sub-title in my ESV bible is "The Cost of Following Jesus". It is not about material things or money, but the comforts of a home. Did the scribe fully know the cost of his statement? You're trading paradise for hardship, comfort for the uncertainty of where you are going. I've realized this place is not for me (at least not right now, selfishly praying God brings me back to the Island I love haha). I have to be ready when he calls me out of that boat with my eyes focused on His glorious face, wherever that may lead. My home isn't here, it's with Him. My home is in the presence of His FULL glory. One thing that the scribe and I have in common is not only our willingness to follow Jesus, but that wait in anticipation to be with Him forever.

Not everyone can get up and move to a different location, I get that. But God calls us to go spread His word and Love. Whether He has called you to certain areas or to be a missionary in Japan, Go! Paul traveled everywhere spreading the message of hope, encouraging believers, and converting new believers. Paul has been a great example of how my life should be focused on the mission of God. But it started with Jesus' compassion for the ones that did not know him.

With all that being said, may our hearts be filled with compassion for the people that don't know Him. May our hearts become so burdensome, it encourages us to go and spread the gospel locally and globally. Thank you, God, for the opportunities we have to share your love and truth to your people around the world. May all the people that were created in your image come to know your glorious name! Amen.