A FREE DAY! Our trip had a strange twist: we could not find reasonable airline tickets out of any city in Michigan. However, God answered prayer, and we flew out of Chicago which meant a 7-hour trip to the airport from Midland. Our flight home was a red-eye out of Guatemala City late on a Saturday night, which resulted in a blessing: we did not have to pay for another night in our hotel, and we had an extra full day in Guatemala. It did mean we traveled at night and didn’t get home until Sunday evening, but it worked out. The 2016 trip was indebted to Jim Sirks, Youth Pastor from the North Avenue Church of God in Battle Creek. Jim drove their big bus and transported us to and from O’Hare. Thank you Jim!

With a free day and plenty of time, we were able to have a hearty breakfast at David Beam’s house, and then we traveled to Antigua for a day of sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs. We wandered through a market place bartering and buying items only to be found in Guatemala. We ate lunch at what had to be one the most beautiful McDonald’s we had ever seen. Outdoor courtyards are not customary here in the states! It was a day of interesting quests and relaxation before we began the long trek home. After a “last supper” at David’s, lots of hugging and good-byes, we departed for the Guatemala City airport to wait for our departure. As I had speculated, we never had our last
devotion time because we became scattered throughout the airport. However, everyone had received their last “yellow” sheet of devotions in our Gospel Story by Colors. The story was now complete with the yellow paper standing for the promise of eternal life. His word is true: “I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.” We were going home to complete one mission and continue the next mission.

All week everyone had been encouraged that they were Made For A Mission. You too were made for a mission. God is at work in the world, and he wants you to join him. God wants you to have both a ministry in the body of Christ and a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers and your mission is your service to unbelievers. And your mission begins on Monday. Our English word mission comes from the Latin word for “sending.” God has sent you into the world to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Jesus completed the mission his Father gave him, the mission Jesus had on earth is now our mission. We are the messengers of God’s love and purpose for the world.

Fulfilling your life mission on earth is an essential part of living for God’s glory. Your mission is a continuation of Jesus’s mission on earth. Jesus calls us not only to come to him, but also to go for him. Our scripture for the day very clearly explains this: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

We always need to remember that we are the only Christians some people will ever know, and our mission is to share Jesus with them. Your mission is a wonderful privilege. Although it is a big responsibility, it is also an incredible honor to be used by God. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says: “God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into his favor and be reconciled to him.” Jesus has given us salvation, put us in his family, given us his Spirit, and then made us his messengers of the Gospel in His world. What a privilege!

And if you are serious, if you have made a decision for Christ, if you want to serve Him and give Him glory, then: Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for the kingdom and for them – those who need Christ. We have the greatest news in the world and sharing it is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone. Acts 4:12 proclaims, “Jesus is the only One who can save people.” Everybody needs Jesus.

Another thought to remember is that your mission has eternal significance. It will impact the eternal destiny of other people, so it’s more important than any job, achievement, or goal you will reach during your life on earth. Your mission gives your life meaning. A man named William James once said, “the best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” The truth is, only the kingdom of God is going to last. Everything else will eventually vanish. This is why we must live committed to worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, and fulfilling our mission on earth. If just one person will be in heaven because of your witness, your life will have made a difference for eternity. There is almost nothing God won’t do for the man or woman who is committed to serving the kingdom of God. You have been made for a mission and it begins NOW!

So, it has been quite a journey that continues on throughout our life. I take you back to the questions we reflected on throughout the week. What are the God Sightings you are living and seeing each day? How are you being blessed today? What are we seeing daily that breaks our hearts? What are we learning in our walk with Christ? What scriptures are filling our minds and thoughts? How are we interacting with community as we go through our day, and what are we grateful for? God has given us life and breath to serve him and bring glory to His Kingdom. As we come to the end of our Guatemalan spiritual journey, this has been my mission: to serve, to lead, to inspire, to equip you for your mission, to love, to care, to bring glory to God’s Kingdom. It’s been a privilege and we encourage you to fulfill your mission. Begin now, tomorrow and forever.

Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift. To God be the Glory!