Precious Cargo

     I read about cargo cults a number of years ago but most recently began thinking of them during a quiet period I've had that's been focused on missions and evangelism.  During WWII, the military discovered a number of isolated tribal groups on various South Pacific islands that it was utilizing and began a practice of flying over the islands and dropping down food and goods.  Later, after the war, missionary groups sought to evangelize these unreached people groups only to discover that it was nearly impossible to do so for they had learned to worship the planes!

     Cargo cults don't really exist today in the classic sense as technology has made isolation nearly impossible, but many not so good things came out of those times.  A cargo cult mentality was developed and some people learned to control other groups with goods and services.  At the other extreme, some churches simply stopped their need meeting completely considering it to be a social program that did no good at all.  But in the middle, where most everybody still stands, the worst of the outpouring from the cargo cults is the fact that we haven't learned very much at all from history.

     The problem was never the cargo, it was always the plane.  Cargo is often the vehicle by which your compassion, and your witness, will travel.  It certainly was a good enough method of reaching the unreached for our Savior and He did it for every reason that we should do it too.  His heart was stirred by compassion!  For that very reason, Jesus did not load up chariots of loaves and fish and send them to the masses, although He very well could have.  No, instead He went to the people with the bread and fish and touched them in the process.

     This year, Christians have some of the greatest opportunities to reach out to our surrounding communities with hearts stirred by compassion and hands of help.  Many will deliver welcome Christmas dinners to families who would have instead gone without.  Others will adopt families for Christmas and surprise boys and girls in a most wonderful way.  These families will appreciate you, of this I have no doubt, and will talk about your good work for many years to come.

     But, if come next Easter their last sighting of you was the taillights of your car as you pulled away waving on December 24th, you have failed to deliver the most precious cargo of all.   

     This Christmas, I would like to challenge you to invest yourself into your community.  If you are meeting a need this year for a needy family (and Christian, is there any good reason you are not?), would you commit to loving this family all the way until next Christmas?  It would amaze you the work God has for you right there where you are already planning to go anyway.  I can think of no better way to see the reward of saved lives than Christians investing their faith into other people.  What better Christmas gift can you give than reaching out to someone fully enough to share with them the gift of eternal life that can only be had in the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?

     "May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."   (Psalm 141.2)

     Could our prayer, our compassion, and our witness this year be so fiery hot that it would warm the homes of many for all the months ahead?  It can, if that be your fervor and your passion.  It will, if that be your intention.  There is an inescapable truth - a person will always follow their heart's desire.  Where, my friend, is yours leading you?  I pray for the precious cargo you are carrying with you today.