A Hunger For God
All over the world things are changing for the good. Through the CD Ministry, God has given us touch with so many people in so many places around the globe. Through this contact we are seeing, first hand, an increased hunger for God in country after country.
There is a lot of unrest out there, particularly in the third world countries. Bombings, attacks, terrorist and the like are reeking havoc and causing panic all over the world. Many of these countries have dealt with that for years. Think about the mayhem in this country following the 9/11 attacks. And then, think of those countries who have been dealing with or threatened by those kinds of things for years. It seems, however, once the terrorists targeted the USA, eyes flipped wide open all around the world.
As you study Biblical history you can see the same movement among the people of the world. Christ, Himself, came into this world in the middle of a world domination. Rome was in control of everything. She dominated every country and every tribe of people.
Paul wrote, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5) The term, “fully come” comes from the base word APEX. That is the highest point you can climb on a hill before you begin to descend. It is the just right time.
It is clear in these verses that timing was a critical issue to the salvation of the world. When everyone is without trouble, there is little room in our hearts for God. It has always been that way. Israel was in and out of trouble, following different gods and prostituting themselves with the world. When they realized they were in trouble, what did they do? They turned to God. It is a cycle that has been around as long as man has inhabited the earth.
You still see it. There are people who are members of churches all over the world who you rarely ever see. But, let some kind of trouble come up in their lives and you can almost count on seeing them in church. The sad thing is, once the trouble is over, you often see them go away until the next time.
Around the world and in our neighborhoods people are afraid. Whether discussed or not discussed, there is a fear in the hearts of people wondering who will be next. Crime is growing and people are feeling less and less safe.
Because of this, people are turning to God. We get letters everyday with comments like, “I would like to know more about the God of the Bible.” There is a hunger! There is a gnawing pain in the pit of people’s hearts as they search for something, someone to take away the fear. There is a desire to get lives channeled into the proper perspectives and direction. There is a strong yearning for God.
Just like when Jesus came into the world, we are facing another APEX… at least for our generation. We have the option to sit around and do nothing about it, like many of us have done for so many years. Or, we can meet the problem head on and offer what we have to feed this hunger. God has given us so much, can we not share it? Watch those around you. The hunger is there.