No more waiting

This magazine’s theme leads me to remember that each one of us is His-story in the making! We are living out the story of Jesus in our lives. What will be said of the year 2023? How does Jesus want to live out His-story in our lives? What will unfold and come forth this year? We know what has been happening for the past three years, and now at last a golden time is upon us.

Can it be said that history repeats itself? Sometimes we need to look back to see where we are heading. Stroll with me back to the last time Japan was really shut down and in a tough time. The dates were 1939–1945, when World War II took place. Little by little, darkness began to hover, and missionaries needed to leave Japan. People could not live freely, and a war mentality set in. Yet when the war was over, a time of great rejoicing and openness took place. During the next seven years (1945–1952), the Occupational Period, Japanese soldiers and civilians from abroad were repatriated and restored to Japan. Arms industries were dismantled, and political prisoners were released. The emperor was reduced to ceremonial status.

Emerging from darkness

We are beginning to come out of another tunnel of darkness. Light is visible once again! At the writing of this article in February, I am looking forward to masks coming off and Covid being reclassified as something similar to influenza. By the time you get this magazine, some changes will have already taken place.

How will we believers contribute to making history in Japan this summer? It’s up to each of us. Have you felt shut up, shut in, and shut down these past three years? Who is ready to live again? Now is the time to forget the former things and not dwell on the past. God is going to do a new thing. It is springing up. Living intentionally, reconnecting, and getting back into community again in personal ways are all part of this new life coming forth.

We have all been hidden in the master’s quiver and have spent a great deal of time alone with God. Has all this been in vain? I think not. As Mrs. Charles E. Cowman wrote in her devotional: “The greatest miracles of Elijah and Elisha took place when they were alone with God. Joshua was alone when the Lord came to him. Gideon and Jephthah were by themselves when they were commissioned to save Israel. Moses was by himself at the wilderness bush. Cornelius was praying by himself when an angel came to him. No one was with Peter on the house top when he was instructed to go to the Gentiles. John the Baptist was alone in the wilderness and John the Beloved alone in Patmos, when nearest to God.”¹

For such a time as this

I invite everyone to stop and spend a few minutes in personal reflection about the past three years of your life.

• How has God been encountering you?
• What has God been speaking to your heart?
• What is it that you have been longing to do?
• What are the desires of your heart?
• What new talents, skills, and understanding have you acquired for such a time as this?
• What new assignment have you received?

I propose that it is time to cast off fear and restraints and come out of being still. We have a dying world right in front of us. Arise, ekklesia (which means “called out from the world and to God” in Greek), and spring into life once again! Though there has been much darkness, our Lord has set us free. It’s time to arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is upon us. It’s time to fan into flame God’s gifts. We have all been waiting for such a time as this. People are hungry for friendship and connecting with others. Use your gifts and talents such as pastoring, leading, designing, singing, dancing, writing, creating, shepherding, teaching, hosting, and listening. Entrust the hope of the gospel to faithful ones who will also be qualified to share it with others. Pour into those who have good soil—those with noble and good hearts who hear the word, cling to it, and, by persevering, will produce a crop of righteousness.

The people of Japan are waiting to hear of this hope. Who can you share it with through your everyday life?

1. Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications 1979), 65.