My nephew Derek who spent the last 7 months in Peru, returned last week. For the last three days, he has been here with us, along with his girlfriend Audrey.

Hearing his stories and looking at his pictures stirs my heart. Though we have not been back that long ourselves, I cannot wait to return. I am so thankful for his obedience, and for how he has surrendered his heart to the Lord.

I am inspired that one who has just graduated from college, would give up such a period of time, and go. There are not near enough who are both willing and motivated to go. Many talk about it, few actually leave.

In most of the small villages he visited, he saw the same thing. We had seen it as well. It is very unsettling, and as a believer should be motivating. We had been approached different times, and even when we weren't their presence was known, as we saw them working the same areas we were.

Their presence in Peru and other countries far surpasses our own. They outnumber us many fold. The work they are doing causes much confusion. They are recognizable there as they are here. They travel in pairs, and dress in Peru as they dress here in the US...in your neighborhood and mine.

In the smallest villages where no Christian churches are present, there is often one of theirs. If it is not theirs, then there is often one from another group that say they are Christian, but are not.

These missionaries who don't know Jesus, but are present in much greater numbers than Christian missionaries, are sharing a false gospel with lost people.

If we are truly in the last days, and if the gospel must reach every nation before Christ's return as the Bible says, then gone is the time when we can afford to wait for someone else to take the Word of God to these lands. While we are waiting, lies are being circulated and accepted as truth by unknowing people.

They are hungry for the Truth, and clinging to what resembles it.

Since the missionaries of these two other groups far outnumber our own, what is to be the result? Are we able to armchair quarterback our way into their land, tell them of Jesus the Saving One, and expect they will come to know Him? Can we do that without ever leaving? Can we expect the number of Christian missionaries to suddenly increase to make the difference in lands where lies are being spread and accepted as Truth?

Who can make a difference if we won't?

Being aware of a problem and doing nothing about it changes nothing!

Meanwhile, people die daily and go to hell, while we buy the next "i-thing" and collapse into the air conditioned comfort of complacency. Surely, someone else will deal with it. Plenty of theologians know about it, so if I just sit tight, things will change. After all, I know a missionary and they will make the difference.

There is no truth in that equation. Numbers don't lie...but people do.

Some lack truth and unknowingly lie to others about what it is. Some have truth but knowingly lie to themselves about who will share it. Meanwhile, more people each day assimilate lies into their daily lives, believing them to be truth and eventually lay down with them for eternity.

We each hold the power to change this. First we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.

Colossians 3:3 says, "You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Jesus doesn't hide behind the front door...He stands at it, and knocks (Rev 3:20).

GO!!!

dad