Things that keep me awake nights by R.A.Cook

THINGS THAT KEEP ME AWAKE NIGHTS .....

1. The changing shape of missionary opportunity and the church’s inflexibility.

2. The heart—hunger of spiritual vacuum over all the world and the constant attempt to satisfy it with religious status—quo institutional procedures.

3. The increasing tempo of a battle that is waged in spiritual places and by spiritual methods and means, and the increasing materialism and dependence upon things on the part of the church.

4. The obvious fact that the world is open to those who are daring enough and who plan big enough, and the continuing littleness of the church’s plans and vision. We are deficient in educating saints, while the world is educating pagans! We admit that in this exploding world, Christians are a smaller minority every year, but we just “hold the line.” The average church has difficulty either in buying a parking lot next door or in underwriting an evangelis­tic campaign half a world away. Big challenge, small vision.

5. The fact that in many countries, the definition of the word “missionary” may well be changing, and the continuing dependence of most groups on the classical and usual definition, both of the person and his job.

6. The importance of personal commitment, personal holiness, and a real separation from the world, and the present tendency on the part of many to soften their approach to the whole question of separation both in life and in doctrine.

7. The fact that Christianity is predicated upon sacrifice, and the abandoning of one’s self to Christ and His will; and the increas­ing concern of most Christians for their creature comfort, their standard of living, and their own safety.

8. The fact that the Great Commission, if it means anything, must take precedence over any other command and must affect the econom­ics of my private finances. This, coupled with the fact that the average believer has no intention of allowing his religious faith to come anywhere near dominating his wallet.

9. The fact that so many in God’s family find it difficult to maintain themselves spiritually, largely because of a lack of a definite and fruitful “quiet time” daily with the Lord. Under the stress and strain of a busy ministry, they begin to crack and become spiritual causalities, or at best, dedicated refugees, running away from their problems.

10. The fact that so comparatively few of us who claim to trust the Lord Jesus Christ have ever learned that this life is for keeps, and that the adversary of the saints, the devil, is dead in earnest. So many are still playing church.

11. The fact that God is still willing to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” for us “little faiths” if only we would get around to trusting Him.

12. The fact that one. concerned, committed person can change thous9ds of lives, if God can get a hold of him. Witness Daniel, or Paul, or Luther, or Wesley, or Livingstone, or any of hundreds of believers who have molded the day in which they lived!
— Robert A. Cook, President, The King’s College

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