The book is a collection of some of Piper's sermons given about missions. The way he digs into scripture for the true heart and calling behind missions is really amazing. I was telling a friend that it is so cool how God has gifted Piper with the ability to teach and communicate passionately and soundly to the body. While I was reading I was reminded of the power of the written word and how it can powerfully speak to the soul.
I gleaned a lot from my time in this book and I just wanted to share a few of the things that God taught me. Wherever you stand concerning missions and our call to make disciples of all nations, I hope these little snapshots will cause you to slow down and really pray over how you are spending your God-given life. Are we truly living with the holy ambition to see Jesus Christ glorified among the nations, to see him globally glorified? As I was challenged, that is what I want to challenge you with.
First, I love how missions is defined- "From beginning to end- in target, effect, and impetus- missions centers on the worldwide fame of Jesus in the praises of his diverse peoples from every tribe, tongue, and nation. What's at stake in missions is the universal honor of the Father in the global glory of his Son in the joy of all the people" (23). Wow! And the awesome thing about this is that since God is so passionate about having his named praised among the nations, it will happen. All the nations will someday be praising his name. There is a victorious, glorious, and triumphant ending to this story.
"We are all utterly dependent on the honor of Christ, not our value or our distinctives. And nothing is more secure than the honor of Christ" (69). I love this.
Because Christ's work on the cross is complete, because he already has conquered sin and death and sits at the right hand of the Father, his honor and glory is totally secure. And as redeemed people, our identity in him is therefore also totally secure. I'm learning that the real beauty of missions is that I literally cannot do it in my own strength. With my pride, selfishness, and impatience there is just no way. But that is where Christ enters into my shortcomings, where the Holy Spirit works in my heart and where the Father equips me with power to be his hands and feet to his people. 2 Corinthians 3:5 says our competence and sufficiency is in the Lord. What an important, life-giving truth!
I want to share with you a few facts Piper mentions about unreached people groups. An unreached people group is defined as being a distinct ethno-linguistic people of whom fewer than 2% of the population are Christ-followers. Of the over 15,000 people groups worldwide, there are over 6500 that are unreached. Something that hit really close to my heart is that the Japanese are one of the three largest unreached people groups. One of the largest!
Piper also comments briefly on the history of Christianity in Japan, writing "I don't doubt the hardness and difficulty of Japan today is largely owing the massive (though short-term) triumph of the devil in the early 1600's" (126). That gave me chills because it was my reality this last year. Satan has such a strong, mysterious hold on this country. And yet I have hope because God will see his name glorified among ALL the nations. And what an honor, joy, and privilege that I get to be sent to the world sharing the only message of true salvation with those walking in darkness. Little old me, it blows my mind.
There is so much more that I learned or was convicted by in reading this book. But I think it all boils down to the fact that the gospel is real, Jesus is alive, he is coming back, and he will receive the praise of all the nations. How exciting that when he comes his children will come together and sing with one voice from all the nations, tribes, and tongues of the world. As Piper writes in his conclusion, "may the center of our singing be the same as the center of the new song we will sing in the age to come, namely, the song of the Lamb who was slain:
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and
language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and
priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
(Revelation 5:9-10).
Missions is a serious calling because the praise of our Creator God is at stake. Piper writes "if you say that you love the glory of God, the test of your authenticity is whether you love the spread of that glory among all the peoples of the world" (160). Is that true of our walks? Do we love the glory of God enough to leave home, cross cultures, make sacrifices, suffer, so that Christ might receive glory among all the nations? God give us the strength and courage and passion to have this be true every day of our lives.
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