I've been thinking about my own life lately. Thinking about whether I would be considered a success or failure in God's work, but the more I think about it the more I realize I'm dwelling on the wrong questions. It's a bad habit in our culture to evaluate everything based on success or failure. God doesn't work that way.
One of God's glorious failures in ministry is a man I deeply respect, Jim Elliot. Jim went to Wheaton College and had as his dream a missionary career to an Indian tribe in South America. He planned, with others, this quest into an unreached people group and then, with several others, went to their village to begin the work.
Before they could make first contact Jim and his team were killed on the river bank where they had landed their plane. I wondered today, as I thought about Jim, did he think as he lay dying on that sand bar, "I failed! I thought God wanted me to reach these people, but I failed! Lord, I'm sorry I failed you."
But the truth is that Jim and his friends were one of God's amazing divine failures. What Jim might have thought as failure as he lay dying God was using to raise up an army of missionaries to reach not only this tribe, but many others. What we might see as utter failure God uses as part of his plan.
I wonder at times if I'm one of God's great divine failures. There are times when I think so, but then I realize that being part of his plan means I don't see the end. I don't see what he's working on. I can't see my part in the play. This whole mission to the world thing looks completely different than we in the western world might think it should. God does things his way that all men might walk in his provision and glorify him.
If, like so many in ministry, I feel like a divine failure I should be thrilled. God does some of his best work with those who fail at everything they try. In this upside down kingdom called the kingdom of God I think Jim Elliot would say that a divine failure is the most exciting kind of success......because through it God is glorified!
7 comments:
This is one of my favorite posts, Mike. Thanks.
Thanks, Lori, it's where my head and heart are right now, so I'm sure it comes out. Thanks for your encouragement and kind words.
Thanks so much, Mike.
Mike, lots of food for thought. Please forgive this long rambling, but I have often mulled over John Elliott's life, sometimes thinking it was "not a very wise" decision he made that fateful day, until I read his story and his words of passion to serve the Lord. I marvel still at the fruit in Elizabeth Elliott's life, as she opened her hand to receive what God had given her, with gratitude and acceptance, her humility and willingness to follow His will for her life, wherever that led.
Mike, you are so right. It is our human inclination to want to assess our lives/vocations/actions as success or failure, but by whose standards are we assessing? It doesn't matter what others think - only God. As you said, God does not assess the way we do. His plan works out as His will dictates, and He knew that day that John Elliott was going home, and He knew that Elizabeth would be used, not just to bring Christ to the Aucas, and specifically the murderers, but He also knew she would be used to reflect true and pure reconciliation and selfless love, beyond understanding, and only possible through His Spirit. That was God's will and their journey. One was not a failure and the other a success, as much as it looks that way to the human eye.
"Divine failure" is an oxymoron. God does not do failure. As you say, God does things His way that all men might walk in His provision and glorify Him. His ways are not our ways. The journey is to joy in His glorious presence. Larry Crabb writes in Shattered Dreams, " ... That long journey (to joy) takes us through shattered dreams, to a new way to live, to a joy-filled encounter with Christ, life arousing community with others, and to a powerful transformation of our interior worlds that make us more like Christ." No failure anywhere in those words!
So, my friend, you who are a shepherd, pastor, husband, father, son, brother, beloved son of God, co-heir with Christ, Be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you, WILL perform it until the day of Jesus Christ and the word failure will not appear anywhere in your God-filled story!!
Typo - that would be Jim Elliott!
Ann, thanks for your great thoughts. Well said. And re. Jim Elliot's name....It is spelled with only one t . Thanks again for your words.
I know! That's what I get for not doing double checks before I post!! I couldn't figure out how to delete the post and repost, so I thought it might slide by! LOL
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