Everyone likes to get something new. Especially when it is something that you need. How many of us have traded in an old phone, and then receive the benefit of a new phone, new options, new features. New stuff rocks! Especially when you make your living off of such an item. Such is the case in this story. During our mission trip to Haiti, my friend Joe bought 6 machetes with the purpose of trading them to Haitians who needed them. Afterwards, the Lord gave wisdom to also use that physical help for evangelism.
As we were talking with a group of Haitians, inviting them to come and watch the JESUS Film with us that evening, a working man came up with a worn down machete in his hand. Joe asked if he wanted to trade. After making sure of the terms of the deal, the Haitian quickly nodded an affirmative nod, smiling as if he knew he was getting the better end of the bargain.
Isn’t that so true with us? Oftentimes scared of letting go of the old and not knowing what the new will be like. Even in a slam dunk case such as the LIFE the Lord offers us, accepting the new isn’t as easy as it would seem. We have been offered forgiveness and a new creation inside of us, yet how easy it is to think we are being duped. But, in both cases, the donor is not seeking to deceive. Joe is just wanting to bless a Haitian friend, and Jesus’ very nature is to give new Life. Jesus wants to take the old, not make it better, but instead to give the New! People just simply have to trust the Deal-maker and His terms.
Once this Haitian made the deal, his friends watching, a little time passed, and it was obvious the Haitian was much better off. And because he was much better off and everyone knew it, other Haitian men began to break out their old machetes — which speaks volumes of the power of a new believer in a community. As we left one community, there stood three Haitian men beside the road, holding their old machetes in anticipation of our kindness, ready to take us up on our offer.
Because we believe that this is going to be a great way to witness and show practical kindness, Gospel for Haiti hopes to auction off these old machetes with the purpose of supporting this ministry of evangelism. Thank you God for such a great trade for us.
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!