Questions and Hammocks

Ever since I have arrived in Cambodia I’ve been asked numerous times if I was a Christian and if my family members were also.  Then I would always be greeted with an excited reaction by the person asking me.  I’ve not really ever been asked that question growing up, I’ve always been involved in organizations and such that was Christian, so it was just assumed.  The first time I was asked, I was taken back a little.  Shocked is probably a better word to describe my reaction.  After a split second of shock I would respond with a yes; leaving questions to swarm my head.  Like do I really, truly know what it means to follow Christ?  I’ve never had to live out my faith in a non-faith based world. Do I have the excitement of others that are Christians?  These people’s faces light up when they find out I’m a Christian.

I think in America, we just use the term as a security blanket.  To have something else stamped in our “who we are” section of our life.  We miss the point so much.  I miss the point so much.  Jesus did more than just go to church and donate some of His time to help those that were struggling.  I’ve started reading John and find it amazing that the disciples still followed Jesus after some of the crazy things He said.  I mean come on if some random guy would say today eat my flesh and drink my blood and you’ll have eternal life, we would think He was crazy.  These guys had no idea that Jesus would take upon all of our sins on the cross and raise from the dead.  They didn’t have the moving music, drama or skits in our churches today to “move us.”  They saw His miracles and followed.  Maybe I’m just lazy, but this astonishes me. 

Let’s be honest how many of us would drop all of our things to follow a man we just saw doing something miraculous?  I know if I saw it today I would most likely be like well that was cool, probably rigged and go on with my life. 

All I can say is that I’m glad I know the full story.  That my Jesus has saved us all from sin and that He’s coming back for us one day.  This knowledge doesn’t make life any easier or give me huge clear answers about life, but it does give me hope.