Left Behind
A common question I’ve been getting asked over the past couple of weeks is, "what are some of the things I'll miss most when I move to Africa"? Well, I’d have to say Starbucks, Chili’s, high speed internet, XM Radio, online music, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, taking care of my yard and a movie theater closer than 2 hours away would top the list. But, there is still one thing that just might break me. I am of course talking about my TiVo. If you own one of these beautiful boxes you know what I mean and if you don’t have one you’ll never understand. Don’t worry, I’ve already contacted the local South African satellite company and turns out they might have a “TiVo” type system out by the end of the year. Praise God!

So with all those things, plus an amazing church, a loving family and friendships that have been a true blessing in my life why would I leave it all behind and move to Africa? To put it simply, God called me out. You see, about six months before my mission trip in September of last year I really felt dead in my spiritual walk with God. I found myself asking God for something big to change in my life. I didn’t even know what I was praying for I just knew I needed something to happen. During that time God slowly began to reveal to me that deep in my heart there were questions I needed answers to. Questions like: Who am I? What am I made of? What am I destined for?

In John Eldedge’s book “Wild at Heart”, he makes the point that today’s church (not Celebration Church) has done a disservice to Christian men. That most men in the church believe God has simply put them on this earth to be a nice guy. I mean hey, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I’m friends with my neighbors, so that makes me a good Christian man, right? Well, maybe not.

I feel that as men of God we should be bold, passionate, fearless, dangerous and wild about this life. Man was created in the image of the Lion of Judah, outside of the Garden in the wilderness and we should start acting like it. So why do I have so much trouble doing this? Why do I sometimes doubt the very fact that I have any real strength to offer this world at all and if I did I’m pretty certain it wouldn’t be enough anyway? I remember when I was a kid I wanted to be a cop, a fireman, a professional athlete or even a secret agent. I was always building forts, making bike trails, climbing the tallest tree I could find or just turning an empty roll of wrapping paper into a bazooka. I wasn’t afraid of anything in this world. I don’t exactly know when this world got a hold of me and made me think I wasn’t strong enough to change it, but it happened. More importantly, now that I’m a Christian with the power of Christ inside me why do I still feel powerless?

Let's look at some Biblical examples to help put those thoughts to rest. Take Samson, he killed a lion with his bare hands, pummeled and stripped thirty Philistines. He even killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. So where did he get the strength? Look at Judges 15:14, “... The spirit of the Lord came upon him in power”. In Isaiah 61:1 it says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me… He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”. Now that sounds like someone who is not afraid of what this world will do if it disagrees with him. Even Christ never backed down. When the mob came to take Him away in the dead of night Christ didn’t shrink back in fear, but instead went out and faced them head on.

I think a lot of people, including myself sometimes look at Christ and see a meek and mild person, but let’s get one thing clear. He’s no Mister Rodger with a beard. Sure, there will be time in life for compassion, humility, and love but there is also a time for character, strength, courage, risk, enthusiasm, and bravery and as Christian men that is who we truly are. So as I embark on this adventure to Africa I know that God is going to use my time there to mold me into a new man, a better man, a more Christ-like man.

By His Grace,
Dave Ditges - missionary to South Africa