
“We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) --Romans 8:24-25 (NLT)
There was a time, not too long ago, that I gazed out of a window overlooking the hazy rooftops of 11 million people living under the world’s most polluted sky. Delhi, well-known as India’s capital, is also one of the largest cities in the world.
As I stood at this window from several feet in the sky, I thought about how, at first glance India in its entirety may feel drenched in crushing humanity and spiritual bleakness. However, I see it as a place that rings continually with hope.
For example, I have learned how God is replacing the dwindling number of missionaries in India with strategically placed Josephs and Daniels in high places of influence within the country’s government, education and business sectors.
Do you know what this means?
This means that in Delhi, alone, there are 11 million ever-growing opportunities to meet Jesus Christ and find new life in Him. There is no greater gift than Christ!
What is truly exciting is that this wild hope extends beyond Delhi. It extends beyond India. It extends beyond the physical and political boundaries throughout the countries of the earth.
I want to share with you a remarkable statistic that highlights very well God’s abundance of hope—evident everywhere. We are blessed at International Students, Inc. to be able to reach 25 souls a day. In the next 60 minutes, another heart, which might not have ever experienced Christ, will be saved forever.
This overwhelms me with gratitude for God’s promise of life and renewal. I am reminded of the Miracle of the Seed—the marvel of that tiny object growing into a source of blessing. Luke 8 talks about being “sowers of the seed,” which International Students, Inc. is blessed to be able to do in the lives of international students. Matthew 13 assures us that when you sow a seed, you then enjoy good results.
I would like to share some stories that, I believe, mirror the beauty of “sowing the seed”:
A professor in a Hindu-controlled, elite university system and a brother in Christ, whom we have encouraged and befriended for years, was appointed a faculty president over all 14 campuses there.
This provides us with yet another open door from which we can engage with graduates of a system that has already produced a flood of students and high-tech megastars to America.
A second door in India has opened as well. Not too long ago, another long-befriended professor was appointed vice-chancellor at one of the largest, most renowned universities in the country. At least 700 of his graduates have come to America for further work.
Doors continue to open in this way—this is definitely worth rejoicing!
When we see through the eyes of God, every day is the beginning of a new miracle. Outside, the world may continue to appear littered with images of hazy rooftops and dire situations, but I encourage you to hold on to the constant hope in Jesus Christ. There are miracles occurring every day, every hour. Thank you for visiting our blog. May you be blessed today and the days to come!