I don't like the s word... Safe

Before I left for France I had many, many, many people come to me asking if I was sure I should go, reminding me of how unsafe & unstable it is there and pleas for me to "be Safe".  Not concerning France, but Mali that is.

As much as I wish it were surprising to me, it wasn't, that many of these pleas came from believers. People who I know love Jesus. I don't understand. I know they spoke out of love but if they read the same Bible I read they know what Jesus says. 

Does the Bible say, "Put first your safety and comfort and everything will be added to you"?

How about, "Don't worry about making disciples of all nations. Just stay in Jerusalem. The rest will figure it out on their own."?

Or, "Keep everything you have to yourself and you will find great joy and great life"?

God called me to go to Africa.  To this beautiful place called Mali.  Where the people need Jesus.  God called me to share His son with those who either have never heard of Him or are under the lie of Islam and need their Savior.  God called me to go a place where there is war.  God has called me to go to a place where the government is a bit of a mess.

How do I know God called me? I heard Him when He said, "The harvest is plentiful be the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matt. 9:37-38

I believed Him when He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20

I took Him at His word when He said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

There is something I fear far more than death. It is the thought of standing before Jesus and instead of hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant" that I hear,

"My child, I called you to Mali and you did not go. I had people waiting for you to speak life to them.  I had babies waiting for you to feed them.  I had mothers waiting for you to teach them.  I had kids waiting for you to hold their hand.  I had villagers waiting for you to bring them bread.  I had men and women and children waiting for you to love them.  These ones did not know me.  They didn't hear my name.  While you were safe at home they died in anguish.  My child I called you."

I understand that God has grace.  I understand that God gives us wisdom and discernment.  I understand that there are times when due to danger missionaries must leave.

I understand these things.  But I know the truth and believe with all of by being that Heaven and Hell are very real and every single person on this earth is going to one or the other. If I know this and I know the truth how then can I NOT go? 

In Romans 10 Paul writes,

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

In Mali there is an estimated 39 of 63 people groups who are considered Unreached or *Least Reached.  This means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.  No one has ever gone to them and shared the good news of the gospel.  No one has told them they are passionately loved by their creator.  No one has ever gone to them, lived with them, loved them and gave away the best gift they could ever offer; Jesus! 
*Least Reached = have heard but have not understood and need more teaching, loving and discipleship!

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

I believe that the people of Mali WILL be within the great multitude at the end of the age that are standing before the throne, crying out in a loud voice!  They will sing a new song before the King. They will be clothed in glory. They will be Jesus' inheritance!