One of the highlights of work as a college president is commencement.
One year, while walking to the graduation ceremony, I was excited by the
thought that our graduates were ready to go out to engage the world with the
transforming power of the kingdom of Christ. On my way, I noticed some
industrious ants busily going about their routine. I thought, There are
much greater things happening than the building of sand piles!
It’s easy for us to get lost in “ant world”—to be so busy with our
routines that we miss the joy of personally embracing the bigger picture of
God’s great work around the world. The work of the Spirit is sweeping across
South America, thousands in Africa are coming to know Christ daily, persecuted
Christians are thriving, and the Asian Rim is throbbing with the pulse of the
gospel! Do those thoughts ever capture your heart? Your prayer life? Your
checkbook?
Our preoccupation with lesser things reminds me of Paul’s report that
“Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). I wonder if Demas regretted
abandoning the gospel for the sand piles of this world?
Let’s get out of “ant world” and engage our hearts and lives in
spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Don’t let smaller things distract you from
the bigger work of God around the world. (RBC)
