Warfare

I have traveled to the Upper West Region of Ghana where I will be staying in the town of Tumu for the next nine months. There is a striking contrast from the hustle and bustle of city life in Accra to the small town vibe of Tumu. I am experiencing what some may call “real Africa” up here. Electricity and running water is rare, cooking is done outside the home, the use of a toilet or latrine is almost unheard of for most people, and the need of the gospel is astounding.

Islam is spreading like wildfire and there is a Mosque in every village. I am in a spiritual war-zone fighting for souls. When I asked what is so attractive about Islam to these people, the answer was surprising but it actually made sense.

Money comes in from Saudi Arabia to build a Mosque; they will then use the money to offer villagers a better life if they convert to Islam. They (the Saudi’s) will build a school next door to the Mosque and offer farmers new tools and so on. To the chief of the village, they will offer a plane ticket to Saudi Arabia and a truck. For people who are struggling to stay alive and feed a family, Islam promises a life of prosperity.

This did not rub me the right way at all. It made me wonder where the Christians are in all this? Why aren’t we building schools and giving people trips and vehicles? Then as I was reading my devotions, the Lord reminded me of the truth that I have known and proclaimed over and over:

Mark 8:34-37— Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Following Jesus clearly does not mean that all our problems here on earth will go away. In fact, he says that we will suffer for our faith. So then, why should anyone follow Jesus? Why not just convert to Islam and live a better life? Well, because it is not about this life, it’s about eternity; and it’s certainly not about us, it’s about God. He is not going to try to lure us in with all kinds of fancy things or empty promises, that’s Satan’s job. God wants our hearts, he wants our devotion and he wants a real and genuine relationship with us. The great thing about God is that He gives us love, freedom, peace, hope and joy; all the things that money cannot buy. But God knows our needs and he does provide (look at me, I’m in Ghana!), and He takes care of his children! There is absolutely nothing in this world that compare with a relationship with the creator of the universe. NOTHING. There are plenty of brothers and sisters around the world loving God and living in horrific circumstances who would testify to this. The challenge I am now faced with is to reveal this truth to people who are blinded by the promise of affluence as well as to disciple young Ghanaian believers to cultivate their own relationship with Christ that they may reach out to more than I ever could. I have a great mission ahead of me, but “one with God is a majority”.