Now if you are a hunter like me, when you hear the word "scope" it immediately conjures up an image of a device that sits on top of a rifle. A scope alows a person to see farther and notice things that would be impossible with only their normal eyesight. However when you use the term "scope" in another context, such as the "scope of the damage", it refers to the entirety of something or the sheer magnitude of something. I have a question, what is the scope of God?
I know, I know. There are the "Omni- words: omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent" that we all use to explain just how powerful and how big God is. But in reality do we really understand the magnitude, the scope of the Holy Spirit here on Earth? Do we really "get" the scope of our God's plan? I for one have a tendency to forget just how blinding the glory of God can be.
Lately I have been feeling burdened: for the lost, for the saved who are struggling, for those who are looking for love in all the wrong places, for those who are chasing after the world rather than God. Such thoughts can cause even the most faithful child of God to question His plans and to become jaded to all that they see around them. However I just had a phone call that changed all of that. Please allow me to share about the scope of our God.
Many of you remember that in November you sent me to Uganda with the charge of "preach the Gospel!" The most profound moment of the trip for me was when on the 6th day we landed upon an island and were trying to hurry towards the jungle in an effort to have VBS wih some schoolchildren. The morning started off with a great deal of discouragement. The boat motor wouldn't work, many of us had to be carried off the boat onto the island (remember the water carries diseases and causes we muzungu/white americans to break out in a rash), and our scheule was in total disarray! However while we were trying to get everything off the boats and on shore I heard someone call my name. Thinking nothing of it I heard my name called again and turned to find a young mother with her child in her arms. In very broken English she begged for us to go and pray for her sick child at home. We followed her throughout the village until we stopped at the 25 square foot hut that her entire family lived in. Upon entering we found a young 3 year old girl named Maria lying upon the ground. She was covered in flies, her eyes were yellow, and she was not moving. Her mother picked her up and pleaded with us to pray for her daughter: "I have heard your God heals!"
It was at that moment that I realized the scope of our God. We had no magic pill with which to heal little Maria. All of my education didn't make any difference at all. All that could make a difference was the Power of God. We all laid hands upon little Maria and began to pray. While we prayed I cried, I wept because there was nothing any of us could do to help this child. I had spent a great deal of time studying the disease that had this child in its grip. Malaria: the number one killer disease upon the face of the Earth. Even with medication the disease can inflict great harm and even shots and pills can't always prevent one from catching the disease. All logic and understanding of modern medicine told me that this child would most likely die unless she was taken to a hospital.
After we prayed we left that village and proceeded onto our original destination. I asked a fellow missionary named Darlene how that woman knew my name. She had no explanation, again the scope of our God is as far-reaching as the heavens themselves. Again, I cried and felt more humbled at that moment than I have ever flt before.
Today as I worried about people, sin, evil, and my own inadequacies I got a phone call. The call was from my friend Camryn who was there alongside me as we prayed for Maria. He wanted to let me know that he had gotten a call from our friend Darlene who is still serving in Uganda even now. She had recently been to that same island where this had all taken place. That same mother sought her out and again brought her to that same hut. Only this time she wanted to show Darlene how her precious child Maria was now healed.
Don't ever forget the magnitude, the scope of our God. His power is beyond our comprehension and His plans are always good plans. While sometimes we feel as though we need to be in control of the planning process, perhaps we should just be content to get a small glimpse of His glory every once and awhile.
May the Lord bless you, and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you.
Bro. Dustin
