The Gospel comes with consequences. We, who have been purchased by the blood of Christ, understand this. The cost of discipleship, the dying to sin, the implications of the Gospel on everything from our speech to our attitude is countless. These consequences are realized when we truly believe the Gospel is exactly what it claims to be.
I write this because of one of these consequences that Ibrahim has come to understand. We were talking about Jesus’ words at the end of Luke when a resurrected Christ explains to his disciples that from the Mosaic Law to all of the writings of the prophets, they were all writing about Him.
This is especially important for someone with an Islamic background to understand. In their faith, each prophet has a time or period. In that time, god-fearers should follow that prophet. In other words, those living in the time of Moses should follow him. This is how they explain Jesus as a prophet, a very good one in fact, whose time has nonetheless passed. Understanding that all the prophets were pointing to Christ as the Alpha and Omega is critical in understanding Christ Biblically for the Muslim background believer.
So as Ibrahim and I were talking through this he asked a very logical question. He said, “So what about people like Abraham and Moses who lived before Christ? Are they in hell?” This showed that he understood one must have salvation in Christ to be saved. I quickly flipped to Hebrews to talk about how these faithful men looked forward and believed in Christ.
As I was sitting there ready to move on, Ibrahim’s face changed. I asked him if he didn’t understand something. Quite the opposite. He was coming face to face with a consequence of the Gospel. He looked at me and said, "All of my family and friends who have died are in hell.”
Here sat this illiterate, still relatively new, believer who understood something on a personal level that remained merely on a theological level for me. Many seasoned believers have not reached this level of maturity as they rationalize an Anti-Great Commission attitude claiming God must save those who’ve never heard or He must save those who are faithful people who just have the terminology wrong.
Ibrahim REALLY believes that no other name saves but Christ. Ibrahim REALLY believes those who don’t know Christ will spend eternity in a real place called Hell. Ibrahim REALLY believes the Gospel, no matter how hard the consequences.
After a few seconds Ibrahim looked at me and said, “But that’s changing now, isn’t it? My family is changing history.”
May we all be ready and willing to face the consequences of the Gospel message.
Isabelle loved showing her cousins around Ayorou ... donkey cart style!
The boys conquered Mt Kendaji once again! This time the hike was not so bad considering the weather was about 30 degrees cooler than when Jon was here last April. (ps - 30 degrees cooler still was around 100 degrees!)
Amy & I chillin with the kiddos. Now, where are our kiddos? Hmmm ...
Mark & his brother have a very unique relationship. There are just no words for this picture. 
We had a great time with the Phillips family! Ayorou fell in love with them & they with Ayorou. Of course, who doesn't fall in love with Ayorou?!
Sadly, we waited all week to get a family picture together. This was their last night in Niger & it was almost 9 pm ... way past Isabelle's bed time (hence, the very tired look in her eyes).
