The mission field is a synonym often used to describe the areas where the Gospel has had little exposure. Our thoughts immedietly go to the far east of China or Israel, or to the many areas of Africa. No doubt these places need diligent missionaries and evangelists. In fact I hope to God that godly men and women with a heart for these places rise up and go take the Gospel to those people.
The Gospel is for everyone, because in the sight of God all men are without excuse. they shall go to hell if they die in their sins. God is no respector of persons, the Jew or the Greek. The only people He favours are those who are washed in the blood of Christ. For everyone else, there are these chilling words.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. ~ John 3 v36
So the burden of reaching the lost far and wide is prevalent indeed and should occupy our hearts, as God's people, because we know the truth. The Bible says "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; "
What I wanted to say though is this. The mission field needn't necessarily be hundreds of miles away though. Right where we live wherever we are, there are lost people all around us.
The world we live in happens to be a culturally diverse place, speaking of my home town of London, you do not have to travel far to reach people from every walk of life. I believe in the notion of "six degrees of separation" in that between you and another person in the world there is a gap of six people. You want to reach the world? why not reach the people around you and right where you are.
I have ambitions of serving the Lord in a greater capacity when I'm older, and I aim to do all I can now to be ready for whatever the Lord has for me. I know many friends who have ambitions as well to serve the Lord in a greater capacity and see their place in other countries.
I thank God for all of you, but the mission field is also right in front of us, if we don't have the burden to reach the lost now or to serve God now in whatever little way we can, how can we possibly think we will serve him in a hostile country or in a position where people are dependent on you?
"The words of Jeremiah ring true to that statement. "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" ~ Jeremiah 12 v5
To borrow from a recent Bible study from church, before David fought his first great battle against Goliath, he fought the lion and bear whilst protecting the sheep. He did the work no one would do and it placed him in good stead when it came to the real test in the presence of everyone.
Much like how Jesus taught in Luke 10 your neighbour is not geographic as much as it is who you love and show compassion to. Same with the misison field. It's not geographic as much as it is who you seek with the Gospel in your midst.
God bless :)
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