I'll Stand

"Due to military conflict and threat of terrorism against Western interests, a U.S. Department of the State consular warning currently advises against all travel to Sudan. Other governments concur. Terrorist organizations have specifically called for attacks against Western interests in Sudan."

This is what I read while waiting for the nurse to administer my inoculations for the trip.

Over the past few weeks I have been preparing for Sudan in various ways. The second nurse to give me a shot told me how dangerous it was in Sudan and the danger factor has always kept her from going to Africa. I responded by saying I was not going for myself. I was going for God and my trust was Him. She was not comfortable with my response so she changed the subject.

Next, the man handling my prescription malaria pills said "It raises my blood pressure just handling these pills; the pills of someone going to Sudan." It was my dad who picked up my malaria pills and spoke with the man who said that. The prescription man then told my dad, "Tell him to keep his head down" as my dad was leaving the store with my pills.

Of course, I've done my research on the situation in Sudan. I know it is dangerous. Western influence is strongly opposed and there is persecution of Christians there. There is always the chance I will not come back.

As I thought about the warnings people were giving me, I was not getting scared and I was not going to change my plans. In Genesis 15, it says, "the word of the LORD came to Abram." Notice it does not say, 'God spoke to Abram.' The word of the Lord came to Abram. I would not say I heard God audibly say something to me, but I felt a stirring as God brought words to me: "Are you willing to die for me if that is what I require?"

Suddenly, it was real. I might very well be put in a situation that required my life.

Later that night I realized how, when I was growing up, I always feared death and war. If there was anything I never wanted to be, it was a solider. I would have ran to another country had a draft been issued and I was called to war. I was never willing to die for my country; I was never willing to die for freedom. As far as my nationality goes, I am a coward.

Is it any different to be a solider for Christ?

I realized that if God required me to die for His sake I would. Literally. I am not a coward to die for my faith; to die for my Savior. I would die because I am not able to deny Jesus.

When I go to Sudan, I will be in His hands. There, in His hands, I will stand. If I die, I die for the one who already died for me.

"Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell can ever pluck me from His hands, till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

This song is by Adam Young, the guy from Owl City. I found it on his blog: Owl City Blog