The longer we go with God the more times He will take the opportunity to do things in our lives that will bring His plan and purpose to an expected end and that will give Him glory. As we go on with God He will treat us as maturing sons and daughters. He will look at us as able to endure situations and circumstances, not of our own making or planning, but still must be accomplished to fulfill our purpose in a given time and place. He will expect us not to belly-ache, complain, or sulk, and have the ability in Him to understand or see through the situations He is bring into our lives. God expects us to endure and persevere through these confusing and troubling times.

Often it is like looking through a dark glass. We have some understanding and we can see a little, but lack clarity of vision and comprehension to what is moving around us and as to what God is doing. I believe this is what Paul was talking about here in 1 Corinthians, “F or now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) After the fact we will know and see what God is up to. After the experience we “shall know as also I am known.” This knowing is a “face to face” or unveiled truth of understanding to the point there is no question in our mind, “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:23)

This was the case on my last trip to Katmandu , Nepal . From the beginning I could not understand why Karen (my sweetheart) could not come on this trip. I had the money, she wanted to come (I wanted her to come), but God had a better plan. Little did we know while I was away our outstanding daughter Connie would need a minor surgical procedure and our wonderful little dog Rocky would die. God knew her presence along the way, even though much appreciated and wanted by me, would cause greater burden on the unannounced changes He would add to my trip. God really does know the future. Oh we say and even sing about believing God knowing the future, but in reality we come to see or understand this only after we have experienced something that only God could have arranged in foreknowledge. The longer we go with God the more we are to have this understanding. God does not ask if He can do something strange or different in our lives, oh no. His plans are time specific and event driven. God knows if He has to ask He would have to convince and console us to get us to do that which He needs done. God is a sovereign God and takes no leave, liberty, or permission from any one. He counts on our maturity and spiritual growth to override any inconvience, discomfort, and even pain.

I departed from Raleigh-Durham and arrived at Gatwick, London without event. My next stop was to Qatar Airlines to check-in for my onward flight to Doha , Qatar . I stepped up to the counter and was promptly told my ticket on Qatar was cancelled, I was shocked. I was told to go to the American Airlines ticketing counter for answers. Little did I know there was much more than answers for my onward flight at the ticketing counter. There I met Patrick (since it was Valentines Day I called him St Patrick) who straightened out my ticket for $100 fee. I really appreciated him and his professional work. Instead of Doha , Qatar I was now bound for Muscat , Oman , seven hours later. But not to worry, God was at work. Back in 2005 on a 24 hour layover I met the Gatwick Airport Chaplin, Major Robin McIntosh. I asked, “who is the Chaplin of the airport” and St Patrick said, “Major Robin McIntosh of the Salvation Army.” I then asked if he could contact him and he said, “yes.” He tried, but got no answer on his mobile phone. I said “okay,” but as I was leaving the counter a lady standing by (she must have over heard our conversation) asked, “are you looking for Robin.” I said, “yes.” She told me to go to the Chapel in the South Terminal. I said, “okay and thank you.” When I got to the Chapel there was my good friend Major Robin McIntosh. We had a wonderful time talking about the last time we got together and he shared of his two year bout with bladder cancer. He then took me to lunch. What a wonderful friend he is. After lunch we went back to his office and talked a little more, but he had some appointments in the afternoon and begged his absence. Suddenly there grew in me a great burden to pray for him. He was waiting on a lab report: if it comes back #1 they got all of the cancer, if #2 it may come back, and if #3 it will come back. Well God derailed me at Gatwick Airport for one reason (or so I thought) so I could pray for my good friend Robin’s total healing. Some Christians would say God would not do that, well my friend God would and do even more. God is not too concerned about our comfort when it comes to His plans.

So I departed on my way to Katmandu , Nepal via Muscat , Oman arriving now at 9:45 pm and not 9:15 am as previously scheduled. Little did I know timing was critical for the success of one part of my mission to Nepal . When I stepped out of the airplane my head began to swim and I knew my blood pressure (B/P) dramatically went up. Later I found out it was due to the cool air at the high attitudes, unlike last year in July when we were there. My B/P was a real problem the entire time I was in Nepal this trip. Little did I know God had a wonderful plan for my B/P. At the airport I cleared immigration and met Pastor Tek Dahal at package claim. One part of my mission was to bring in radio station equipment on which the Church in Nepal could be strengthened. It all arrived intact and so did my bag. Next stop was to clear customs. Pastor Tek had a folder and spoke to the custom agent and we were cleared. Later I found out what really happened. Pastor Tek’s friend who works in the government and did the custom paperwork was not with him and we still lacked one form needed to clear custom. If I would have arrived in the morning as scheduled the radio station equipment would have been confiscated, but God had another plan. Working as the duty night custom agent was an old high school classmate of Pastor Tek. If I would not have delayed in London we probably would have lost the radio station, “obedience is better than sacrifice.” After a few days of traveling around Nepal I saw the critical need for the radio station. The Communist Party is making a great play for Nepal and it was the Gospel message that defeated the Soviet Union . So to it will be the Gospel message that will defeat the Communist Party in Nepal . Oh and by the way if I would have arrived as scheduled I would have flown into the worse weather Katmandu has had in last 62 years. God always has a better plan.

The Beholding His Glory Conference on “Spiritual Leadership” (other part of my mission) went well and now it was time to depart for home, actually I departed two days early. With gifts exchanged (some purchased), hugs, and kisses extended it was time to go home. My B/P was getting worse and the doctor at the Hotel Himalayan told me my B/P will get better when I go home. He did not have to tell me twice. The hotel tried to help change my ticket, but in Nepal this is a most difficult thing to do. Pastor Tek said he has a good friend who is a ticket agent and maybe he could help so he called. His friend quoted a price of $950 for a one way ticket. I said great, but I do not have that kind of money on me. Pastor Tek’s friend said, no problem just send me the money when you get home. This guy must be a real Christian. God does take opportunity in our lives, but He also takes care of us. When I got home I had an unexpected check for $1,000 waiting on me. Mission accomplished or so I thought. My B/P was very high and I could not sit in my seat. Of the 22 hours of flight and 10 hours of delay in airports I was on my feet. From Doha, Qatar to Gatwick, London (a 8 hour flight) I stood in the back of the plane and talked with the flight attendants. We had a good time, but one flight attendant (I will not use her name) was really looking for someone to ease her conscience. We started talked about the many translations of Bibles in the world then we shifted to forgiveness of sin, how Jesus came and died for us. And when I quoted, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) She smiled, she understood, she got it, and right there in the back of the plane at 40,000 feet somewhere over Eastern Europe she accepted Jesus as her personal savior. What a glorious conversion, but yet I could not sit down I still had to endure. In London I took my B/P medication early to give myself low B/P to make the flight across the Atlantic Ocean . My trip was not over until I got home. God still had plenty of time to use me for His glory.

My friend this wondrous walk with God is a mystery. Anyone who says different is merely lying. God is looking for spiritually mature children that He can take opportunity (without asking us) in our lives to fulfill His plan. God is looking for spiritually mature men and women to endure and persevere through tough times and distasteful situations in our lives. Make no mistake my friend the longer you go with God the less He will ask permission to touch your life and will ask more and more of you. The longer you go with God the darker the glass grows, but at the same time the clearer our understanding becomes. There is a divine spiritual principle in operation here; clarity of revelation comes out of suffering loss due to our obedience. Jesus’ life was our perfect example, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:8-9) and is the servant greater than the Master? Many Christians want to be “highly exalted” and pray for spiritual maturity, well my friend spiritual maturity comes by way of experiencing loss for His sake. Spiritual maturity in God comes not by church or conference attendance, given tithes and money, singing in the choir, but by looking deep and hard into the dark glass.