“WHITHER AM I GOING?”

The name of Francis Asbury is taken with lot of respect, in the history of the Church, for his love for his Redeemer, and for his commitment to His LORD’s call to ministry. History records that Asbury was appointed as a full-time preachers, in the Methodist Church by age 21. John Wesley asked at a gathering of ministers in 1771, “Our brethren in America call aloud for help. Who are willing to go over and help them?” and Asbury willingly volunteered.

On 12 September 1771, exactly 253 years back, till date, twenty-six year old Francis Asbury, as a pioneer Methodist missionary, on his maiden voyage to America, writes these words in his journal, which reveal his heart and his passion and commitment to His LORD and Saviour.
– “Whither am I going? To the New World. What to do? To gain honour? No, if I know my own heart. To get money? No, I am going to live to God, and to bring others to do so.”

As soon as Asbury lands in America, he begins preaching the gospel, pushing himself to his physical limits…true to what he had written in his journal. He fell sick, on the very first winter, of his arrival in America. Ill health, and his utter commitment to the ministry, became a pattern, all the life and ministry of Asbury. History records that, “…over the next 45 years, he suffered from colds, coughs, fevers, severe headaches, ulcers, and eventually chronic rheumatism, which forced him off his horse and into a carriage. Yet he continued to preach.”

“Some today might call him a workaholic. Or maybe just utterly dedicated. English-born Francis Asbury…during his 45-year ministry in America, he travelled on horseback or in [a] carriage an estimated 300,000 miles, delivering some 16,500 sermons.” “Under Asbury’s leadership, the Methodist Church in America grew from 1,200 people to 214,000 members and 700 ordained preachers.” – Christianity Today

Let us call not ourselves Christians, and Jesus our Redeemer, if we wish to spend and splurge our entire life, its time, our talents, and all the opportunities, on ourselves, our dreams, and our desires, however good and noble they may be. We must make Christ our goal, His glorification our aim, and owning His purpose, as our purpose…however long or short, rich or poor, our life may be.

“WHITHER AM I GOING?” asked Francis Asbury. How about us? Can we ask the same question to ourselves? Can we answer that question, the way Asbury answered? Even so the LORD help us.