As I write this, much of the world is waiting, watching, and
praying as cave divers and Thai Navy Seals are working to bring twelve Thai
boys and their coach out of the cave they became trapped in (Praise the Lord,
since I began writing this earlier today, four of the boys have made it out).
Even now, I stop again to pray for them. As I’ve been thinking about the cave
rescue effort, I’ve also been thinking about an even greater rescue effort. In
several ways, the cave rescue is a picture of the work of the Great Commission.
Great Commission work includes reaching the lost who live across
street as well as those who live across the ocean. But here I’m especially focusing
on that part of the work focused on unreached people groups. Our Lord Himself
gave a special emphasis to going to all the nations and the ends of the earth
(Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8). Around the world there are still billions of people
who live in unreached people groups. An unreached people group is a group of
people with their own language, culture, and geographical locations where there
is currently very minimal gospel light available. In practice, missiologists
often consider a people group to be unreached if they are less than 2%
Christian. Many groups are far less than 1% Christian.
Here are 7 ways in which the Thai cave rescue is a picture of
Great Commission efforts to reach unreached people groups.
1. They can’t escape on their own.
There is no way the boys could escape on their own. They got
trapped in a deep dark cave. In the darkness they became weak. Without an
outside rescue, the certain result would be death.
Likewise, those living in places and speaking languages without
gospel light cannot be saved unless someone brings them the good news of
salvation in Jesus Christ. Without it, they have no hope of gaining the gift of
eternal life. Isn’t this why the Apostle Paul passionately wrote:
For everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How, then, can
they call on him they have not believed in?
And how can they believe without hearing about
him?
And how can they
hear without a preacher?
And how can they preach
unless they are sent?
As it is written: How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
(Rom. 10:13-15 CSB17)
There is still a great need for more people to go and share God’s
love and truth in the darkest places of our world. Pray for more workers (Matthew
9:38)!
2. Trapped by the waters of false religions
The boys in the cave became trapped by muddy water that poured
into the cave system when it rained. This is a picture of how people in
unreached people groups are trapped by false religions.
Most unreached people groups are either Muslim, Hindu, or
Buddhist. Often, in addition to the official religion, people in the dark,
unreached “caves” of our world also are involved in animistic occult like
activities. They seek the help of spirits to deal with health problems, material
needs, to gain protection, and to deal with enemies. Thus, there is often a
double bondage to both a false religious system and to evil spiritual forces
which gain control over people through occult type rituals. In unreached areas the
majority religion is often extremely hostile to Christian witness. Any converts
face persecution ranging from loss of jobs and expulsion from families all the
way to prison, physical attacks, and death. How can they hope to get free from
such a desperate situation? Only by the power of God. Isaiah writes:
Can the prey be
taken from a mighty man,
or the captives
of a tyrant be delivered?
For this is what the LORD
says:
"Even the captives of a mighty man will
be taken,
and the prey of a tyrant
will be delivered;
I will contend with the one who contends with
you,
and I will save your
children.
(Isaiah 49:24-25 CSB17)
3. The tight spots of multiple languages
One of the biggest challenges to rescuing the boys has been tight
spots in the caves. In some places the divers had to remove scuba tanks from
their backs to get through. To deal with these underwater tight spots, they
brought in underwater jackhammers.
In terms of reaching unreached people groups with the gospel, one
of the greatest challenges is language barriers. Many unreached peoples live in
settings where it is necessary for workers from the outside to learn not just
one, but two new languages. For example, Indonesia has a national language. It
is necessary to learn this language to travel, interact with officials, get
medical help, and do many other tasks. However, many Indonesians, especially in
smaller, more remote towns and villages, are not fluent in the Indonesian
national language. They speak one of many local languages. These are totally
different languages. These local languages can have thousands or even millions
of speakers. Often the Bible is not available to people in these languages, the
gospel is not being shared in these languages, and believers are not being
taught and discipled in these languages.
It is God’s plan to reach people in every language. Eventually
this plan will be fulfilled. We still have a long way to go!
After this I looked,
and there was a vast
multitude
from every nation, tribe,
people, and language,
which no one could
number,
standing before the
throne and before the Lamb.
They were clothed in
white robes
with palm branches in
their hands.
(Revelation 7:9 CSB17)
4. Fear is a major enemy
One of the top concerns is that the boys, being unused to scuba
gear, not knowing how to swim, and sometimes being under dark, muddy, flowing
water, might give in to fear and panic. This could cause many problems, and in
the worst case could even lead to death (protect those who have not yet come
out, Lord!).
In a similar way, fear is a major enemy of the spread of the
gospel. Especially fear of persecution. It prevents some people from sharing
the gospel and prevents others from considering it. May God give us the courage
Paul describes in his first letter to the Thessalonians:
CSB17 1 Thessalonians 1:4
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
5 because our gospel did not come to
you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full
assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,
6 and you yourselves became imitators
of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the
message with joy from the Holy Spirit.
. . .
2:1 For you yourselves know,
brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result.
2 On the contrary, after we had
previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we
were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great
opposition.
5. The rescue operation involves a big team
It has been encouraging to see such a large team come together to
rescue the boys from the cave. Divers, engineers, search parties looking for
openings, doctors, nurses, pilots, coordinators, and many others are all
working together. The team includes many local people as well as people who
have come in from all around the world.
That’s exactly the way it should be with Great Commission work to
rescue the unreached. The Bible stresses repeatedly (Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1
Corinthians 12, and 1 Peter 4) that God’s plan involves many people with different
God given gifts working together in unity to build His Church. And just like
with the cave rescue, Great Commission ministry often is strongest when local
Christians are working together with Christians who have come from distant
nations.
6. The
work is dangerous and costly
The death of a retired Thai Navy Seal in the caves during
preparations for the rescue attempts reminded the world just how dangerous and difficult
the cave rescue is.
In a similar way, our Lord Jesus Christ warned that in the course
of spreading His gospel we would encounter opposition, persecution, and
suffering. He warned that some of His faithful servants would die. But He did
not tell us this to discourage us. Rather, He told us ahead of time so that we
would not be afraid, but would press on despite every obstacle, danger, and
difficulty.
7. People all around the world are praying
People all around the world are praying for the boys in the cave
and all the rescue workers. I’ve been praying for them.
We should also be praying for the millions of Thai people who are
in spiritual darkness. Without rescue through the gospel of Jesus, their fate
will be to perish. And we should be praying for the multitudes of people in
unreached people groups around the world, and for those whom God has called to
go to them.
May God bless the cave rescue.
May God work mightily to complete His Great Commission and rescue
millions lost in deep darkness.
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .
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