So yesterday I mentioned in passing that I went to North Korea for a few minutes. I'm sure that that may have alarmed some of you, or at least piqued your interest. But it really wasn't nearly as scary as it sounds. The South Korean government regularly hosts tourists trips into the DMZ.
Now, that being said, it's not like you can just walk onto the DMZ if you feel like it. We were checked for ID 3 times over the course of our visit there, and anything other than a camera (without a case) and a passport were not allowed. Pictures were only permitted in certain, very restricted areas, and pointing or any sort of gesturing in even the vague direction of North Korea was strictly prohibited. We were told that the North Korean soldiers might consider it an act of aggression. It was pretty heavy stuff.
As I was standing there, literally on the border between North and South Korea, looking at soldiers of one of the most oppressive governments in history, I couldn't help but thinking if they had families in South Korea that they never spoke to. Our security escort told us that any sort of communication with the North Korean soldiers is strictly prohibited. There are thousands of North Koreans defectors who have no idea how their families are doing, or even if they are alive. What must it be like to know that you will likely never see your family again, or even speak to them?
But Jesus has called us all to do just that. For most of us it will not be as drastic as never speaking to them again; but He did say that "anyone who loves their mother or father more than Me is not worthy of Me." That's a heavy verse for me. My family and I are very close, and I love them dearly. But God wants us to be willing to give up everything for Him, even our families. The Bible says that "whoever loses their life for His sake will find it." So tell me....do you want God as much as those North Korean defectors wanted freedom? Would you be willing to lose your life for Him?
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Now, that being said, it's not like you can just walk onto the DMZ if you feel like it. We were checked for ID 3 times over the course of our visit there, and anything other than a camera (without a case) and a passport were not allowed. Pictures were only permitted in certain, very restricted areas, and pointing or any sort of gesturing in even the vague direction of North Korea was strictly prohibited. We were told that the North Korean soldiers might consider it an act of aggression. It was pretty heavy stuff.
As I was standing there, literally on the border between North and South Korea, looking at soldiers of one of the most oppressive governments in history, I couldn't help but thinking if they had families in South Korea that they never spoke to. Our security escort told us that any sort of communication with the North Korean soldiers is strictly prohibited. There are thousands of North Koreans defectors who have no idea how their families are doing, or even if they are alive. What must it be like to know that you will likely never see your family again, or even speak to them?
But Jesus has called us all to do just that. For most of us it will not be as drastic as never speaking to them again; but He did say that "anyone who loves their mother or father more than Me is not worthy of Me." That's a heavy verse for me. My family and I are very close, and I love them dearly. But God wants us to be willing to give up everything for Him, even our families. The Bible says that "whoever loses their life for His sake will find it." So tell me....do you want God as much as those North Korean defectors wanted freedom? Would you be willing to lose your life for Him?
Matthew 10:32-39
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
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