There is always another story

Warm greetings from the Netherlands to all our brothers and sisters around the world. May our Lord give us joy and perseverance as we serve Him together. 

I come across quite a few people these days (including Christians) who do not want to become parents because they feel that bringing children into a world full of conflict and pollution is unfair to them. Surprisingly, these are mostly people living very comfortable lives in free and safe countries. The reality of their situation seemingly can’t compete with all the fearful news they are constantly exposed to. 

I am certainly not arguing that it is better to be oblivious to what is going on in the world and just enjoy life in our own bubble. After all, what we don’t know about, we cannot pray for. Suffering we are oblivious to, we cannot help with. And injustice we cannot discern, can easily take root in and amongst us. But our imaginations should not be shaped by the despair of the world, but by the hope of the kingdom of God, which is growing, breaking through the thickest walls of bondage, and spreading light in places so dark that no reporter can bring back stories from it. 

As Christians, spiritually speaking we are not looking West, staring in despair at the dying light of the sunset of a once beautiful world, destroyed by human sin and greed. We look East, where we see the first light of dawn, full of the promises God has given of a new world full of justice, healing and joy. 

There is always another, hidden story for those who have ears to listen. While the world around us is alarmed because Europe can’t seem to slow the stream of refugees, we hear the story of how God is finding his lost sheep amongst them. In European refugee centres, the gospel spreads among people from closed Muslim nations. And Christian refugees in their turn revitalise dying churches in European cities, their very presence reminding the often-discouraged Christians in Europe of the power of God. 

There is always another story. When China built roads and railways into the 10/40 window, China wanted to grow its influence and increase its wealth. But we know the other story, that of the Chinese church making inroads into closed nations and reaching the unreached with the hope of the gospel.

There is always another story. Iran is suffering under oppression from a violent Islamic regime, which threatens to annihilate Israel. But right under their noses the God is growing his church in Iran — a church which sends missionaries to Afghanistan, another stronghold of Islamic oppression. 

The night is real, but it is temporary. The day that is coming will swallow it up forever. Rather than fear the night, we can look for the signs of the dawn of the Kingdom of God. It is coming.