On Translation and the Power of God’s Word
We are coming to the close of Entermission, the time of year when we spend a few weeks focusing on how we take the gospel to our neighbors, the unreached areas within our own country (church planting), and the world. Books and books and sermons and sermons have been written on this topic. What more can one little blogger think to share about missions? Especially one little blogger who wasn’t saved through any conversation with a believer?
My conversion story is a simple one of a girl who, one weekend in a fit of guilt over many things, sat down with her surreptitiously-obtained Bible and found the forgiveness she longed for. She found a God who loved her no matter what and a God who would throw her sins as far as the east is from the west. I was changed– given to Jesus. But no one followed up with me. No one even really knew. The scriptures alone had been my missionary.
I have a friend who says the same thing happened to her. Her freshman year in college she got hold of a Bible, read it on her own, and on her own decided to follow Jesus.
A pastor friend was recently telling me stories of Muslim men in the Middle East showing up at churches, already converted, because they had somehow found a Bible and were moved by the words and the Spirit—no humans involved.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.–Isaiah 55:10-11
Listen to that promise: His word does not return void! It is active and sharp; it is making miracles all over the world that we do not know about! What a simple mission He has given us: spread His word and trust the word to accomplish the work.
But what about those who have no scripture? I did a little Googling and saw a lot of different numbers, but my best read is that there are around 1,300 languages that have NO scripture. Another 1,000 have some translated but still not even a full New Testament or Old Testament. It makes me want to weep. Here I sit daily with the complete Bible, His thoughts on paper before me, while millions around the world have not a single drop to drink. On the Day of Pentecost when the disciples began to speak in tongues, Jews from “every nation under the heavens” heard the word of God in their own languages. Our God desires His word to be translated!
And so here is my (not unique) mission message: while you’re praying and giving generously of your money or even considering going overseas, remember the Bible translators. Remember Wycliffe, SIL, Pioneer Bible Translators, the American Bible Society, the Institute for Bible Translation—and so many more—who are daily doing the work to put God’s words into the heart languages of thousands. Translators are not only making paper Bibles but also video Bibles and audio Bibles. They are putting translations on the internet and on apps. This is glorious work, powerful work, and it needs lots of prayer, money, and workers. Maybe you would even want to physically join in this effort?
For those of us staying home, lean on the promise that His words do not return void. You have more power in your Bible than you can imagine. As much as you can, send those words out. God has marvelous intentions to be fulfilled when we teach little ones short verses or place a Bible in the hands of an unbeliever. Host a Bible study, add a psalm to a card you’re sending to a friend. Pray scripture. Drench yourself in it and praise God for the privilege to do so. One thousand three hundred people groups out there cannot. Yet.
