I recently read a biography of David Livingstone (1813-1873), the great explorer and missionary to Africa. Although he faced intense challenges—frequent sicknesses, attacked by a lion, sleeping on dirt floors, misunderstood by locals, lack of converts—he was known for his calm and joyful demeanor and his endurance in prayer and mission.
After reading about his life, I couldn’t help but be impressed. I thought, this guy was a real missionary. I haven’t done anything close to what he did. He is way up in the stratosphere and I am way down on earth. In heaven he will be far above me.
And then I remembered how God descends. The highest one became the lowest one. The greatest humbled himself and became “obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). Love does not stay perched on the highest pedestal, casting a proud eye on all who are below. Love lowers itself to meet the needs of others.
For this reason, Jesus taught his disciples, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mk 9:35). And “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (10:43-45).
The first became last. The closer we are to the descending one, the more we will descend to meet the needs of others. In heaven David Livingstone won’t be so far above me that we will have no contact with each other. If he is truly great, if he is truly like his Lord, he will descend to my lowly level.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. My latest book focuses on Paul’s work as a tentmaker and what it means for today.