This sermon reflects on a personal journey of self-realization and transformation, highlighting the shift from a life of materialism and self-centeredness to a heart aligned with God's compassion for the suffering world. It emphasizes the need to prioritize eternal matters over worldly possessions, to be willing to sacrifice comfort for the sake of spreading the Gospel, and to live a life that reflects Jesus' selfless love and mission.

You know, I came to America in 1974, after having spent eight years on the mission field, getting beaten up, abused, a lot of sacrifice and suffering, wept without end for the lost world. And I came to America to go to seminary and hopefully, you know, then figure out what I do for the future. But, you know, America is a very strange country that changes aliens. And within a few months' time, I was called to pastor a church. I was in seminary full-time and teaching three or four times a week in my church and baptizing people and all those things. But, you know, I was in Germany before coming here. And so when I came to America, I began with Kmart, buying stuff and all those things, you know, fairly cheap. But within three years' time, I ended up with the Neiman Marcus. And I had 70 expensive neckties and most expensive suits, all from Europe. And nothing wrong with having nice things. And then after coming here, I figured out you have to color coordinate things. So I bought me a book called Color Me Beautiful. I analyzed my skin and found out I was winder. Any fool can tell you by looking at you, you are what? But I needed a book to tell me that. So it took me something like a half hour to get dressed, you know, the tie, the jacket, all these things. And sometimes I had to almost get a bulldozer to move the clothes from one end to the other so I can pull one out from the closet. And I was not doing any sinful things, you know. I was doing everything right, I thought. But about three years into that kind of life, one day, the Lord began to speak to me and said, Son, what on earth are you doing with your life? I said, what? And I looked up and saw my library with books that I may never read, but they're all there. And I saw the expensive seven, seven expensive leather-bound Bibles sitting on the shelf. And the Lord spoke to my heart and said, Son, half of the world have never seen one page of the Bible yet. What are you doing with your life? Then He said, you are the one who is preaching that half of the world go to bed with empty stomach and naked bodies. What will happen to you? How much more stuff you need before you understand my heart is breaking for the suffering of the world? In India, then and now, there is not one radio station, Christian radio station in India. In the entire country with 1.2 billion people. In Dallas, at that time, we had 13 Christian radio stations. I am able to hear the best of Christian music of all kinds on my stereo. But I was not satisfied. I must go and buy my own cassettes for the one song that I heard from my favorite artist. And was stacking up. And the Lord said, Son, where is reality? Is this what I'm all about? This was 33 years ago. All I could do was to repent. And I said, Lord, I'm so lost in my own selfishness and greed. Forgive me and change my heart. Take eternity and stamp on my eyes. I didn't know what that all meant. But the Lord changed my heart. Years went by. I couldn't cry anymore during those years in Dallas. But now, I could weep again. Not because of some sin I was committing. Because of my self-centeredness and the lost world. World map came into my home. People that I could eye disease because I couldn't stop crying. My heart became soft and tender. I said to my wife, I just want to keep a couple of ties, a couple of jackets, a few trousers, a few shirts. And sell the rest and give it away. And we sold, changed, exchanged everything we possibly could. Not to become spiritual. Not to please anyone. Because all of a sudden I realized. Millions of people living without Christ and dying and going to hell. And I must exchange all these things. I used to chew gum like a cow. And all of a sudden I realized. How many hundreds of people that knew that came to Christ. By reading one gospel tract on the mission field. That cost less than one cent. I decided, stop chewing gum. And exchange that for gospel tracts. Please, listen to me. I'm not trying to tell you to sell your house and sell your clothes and how to neckties. I have friends of multi-millionaires who walk with God. Who are intense in their discipleship and caring for the lost world. I'm not trying to tell you being poor is spiritual. But I found my life so free. So wonderful. When I discovered. I'm not called to live here forever. I do have two jackets still. I don't look bad, do I? Now I don't have to organize over 24 jackets. This one or that one. I have two, three neckties. And last meeting I was somewhere speaking like this. And I had a necktie and I talked about the necktie story. Somebody came to the pastors. Gave me five thousand dollars and said. Can you please ask him to give you his tie? So I gave him my tie. So I got two ties. Either I wear this one or that one. No argument. I'm not telling you to do these things so you can be closer to God. Rather, the more closer you get to Him. Your heart begin to break. And you come to the place, I'm not my own anymore. I don't care about how other people think about me. My concern is eternity. And you make your decisions based on that. That is how Jesus lived. They want to make Him the king. He said, me? You can be the king. My few days here, I have something else to do. There's a cross, there's eternity. He was not after any of those things. That is how we must be living as revolutionaries. Changing our home, our community, our world. Not superficial plastic Christianity. That says, feed me, feed me, take care of me. Rather saying, I am willing to go to the end of the world. Whatever it takes for the sake of Him who gave His life for me.