Today is the Day of Salvation

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:13-14

  We have been reminded constantly over the last couple of months how our life is but a vapor. We do not know what will happen tomorrow, nor do any of us know how much time we have here on earth. It seems as though death is all too frequent here lately. Many of the deaths were unexpected. One of those was a young man named Carlos. He was killed October 8. His mother, Milagros, attends our church. We really feel the Lord wants to use Carlos' death and the others to awaken our community to the realization that we are not promised tomorrow. There is a popular mentality here, as there is all over the world, that turning your life over to Jesus can wait until tomorrow. A large majority of the people here agree that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. They don't deny it. They just aren't ready to turn it all over to Him today. Over and over we hear, "mañana" or "pronto". But that is a lie from the devil to keep people from a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20

  Just as God used Joseph's difficult situation to save many lives during a great famine in the book of Genesis, He can use these sorrowful times to save many here in Barahona. Please pray that the Lord would use this for good, that the eyes of the people would be opened to receive salvation today. Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom and that He would use us and our church to accomplish His will. Please pray for the Christians on the mountain to be bold in their faith and to share with those around them. 

  Please also pray for Carlos' family. His mother is very torn up over the loss of her son. But, the beautiful thing is that she has not lost her faith or trust in her Savior. She remains firm in the truth that God is in control and that He is the only One who will get her through this grief. Milagros and her family also want to see the youth of our community impacted for the Lord through Carlos' death. They see many of the teenagers leaving the church and turning to the street. It has been encouraging for us to see their heart for the people and their desire for the Lord to use this tragedy to change the lives and eternal destiny of others.