The Cambridge Seven were a group of 7 men who became missionaries to China in 1885 (with China Inland Mission), but before doing so they toured universities across England and Scotland, holding meetings for students to hear their testimonies and why they were going to China. God brought a huge revival to Great Britain through the "Cambridge Seven".. many came to listen to them talk, and hundreds up to even a thousand were converted each night. Was really moved reading their brief biographies ... they were men of prayer, men of complete devotion to God, men who saw the urgency of the gospel, the urgency to reach lost souls.. and I'm greatly touched by the faith-filled lives they led. Some things in particular that got my attention...
- They didn't wait until they 'got out into the mission field' to be missionaries, God used them exactly where they were in their colleges, in the army, sports teams, neighbours, etc... they were already missionaries before they 'became missionaries.'
- They were all different - different personalities, different strengths/weaknesses, different backgrounds... but all had a unified passion to see lost souls saved. I don't have to be someone I'm not. I am who God made me to be.
- It was no easy thing for them to be Christians... they were all in, and in so doing risked popularity, risked fame, success, wealth, career, they gave it all up for His cause (one example that stood out: C.T. Studd was a famous cricketer, the "Michael Jordan" of cricket at that time, but "once revived in the Spirit, his passion for Christ superseded that for cricket and he gave up his promising career in exchange for the hard path Christ marked out for him").
"Are you living for the day or are you living for life eternal? Are you going to care for the opinion of men here, or for the opinion of God? The opinion of men won't avail us much when we get before the judgment throne. But the opinion of God will. Had we not, then, better take His word and implicitly obey it?" - C.T. Studd
- God worked a huge revival in these men to call them to repentance & faith, although some had Christian parents, they themselves were asleep and at best nominal Christians... not until Christ called them personally. This 'sleeping Christian' culture is not so different from today is it. We cannot inherit our faith, indeed we must each have our own Christ encounter.
- In China, though money, health, and even missionary support failed at times, still they kept pursuing the lost. They endured hardships with great joy. Their love for the people of China was so huge, that many of the 7 stayed in China as long as they could.. even to their dying breath. God put a great love in their hearts for the lost. I'm reminded also that He puts this same love in me too, although many a time it is dampened by the pursuits of this world & myself.
Like the faithful men & women in Hebrews 11, reading stories of recent Christians who also showed faith ... in this case, 7 brothers in Christ who gave up all for the calling God had set before them to preach the lost... its so faith-building! What examples they are although displaced in time, but with cultures not so different from ours. I guess, it's always the case that following Christ is a path that goes against the stream of culture, goes against the things this world places value on.. popularity, success, wealth, or even something as simple as desiring to live a comfortable and safe life, where everything is insured and safe-guarded, there are no risks, no leaps of faith, no surprises.
But is this a life worth living?
At the cross where I've found forgiveness and grace, here at the cross, Jesus thought I was worth dying for that I might live. If this life I have now which cost Jesus his all, if I live this life for myself then there is no worth in it and in so doing claim Christ as worthless. But if I consider Christ as my full worth, then how easy it is for me to live fully trusting and fully for Him. This is not fleshed out though in myself I know as I still grip consciously & subconsciously to the side rails of earthly securities and common-sense 'worldly' wisdom. I imagine sometimes what it would be like to let go of these things, and at once the fearful 'what-ifs' come into play. Oh to see a bigger clearer picture of our Almighty God! Reading about these men though, its so faith-building... that they can trust wholeheartedly in our Father, means we too can trust in Him all the more!
