If you know me, you know I’m a Hello Kitty fan. I don’t like cats, but I make an exception for Hello Kitty.
On our recent trip to Japan, I saw Hello Kitty everywhere! She was in temple souvenir shops, museum souvenir shops, in the sake factory, in the sushi restaurant, dressed in kimono, dressed as a longevity black egg, dressed as a Ninja, on key chains, necklaces, shirts….EVERYWHERE.
I was thrilled that she was so popular and well-known. She is like Japan’s national mascot.
Why did it matter to me that she was popular? Why did I like seeing her everywhere? It’s because I think she is so adorably cute that she deserved to be well-known. I might even say that I like seeing her “exalted” and “glorified” all over Japan with her cuteness. I want to take pictures of her in all her “glory” in different outfits and show everyone how cute she is. When I see other cute characters, I compare them to Hello Kitty and sniff and say, “Hello Kitty is a lot cuter than that.” I want people to say “Oh, she’s so cute!” and enjoy her as I do. As more people see the cuteness of Hello Kitty, she will be more “exalted.” And I would be happy to see her famous all over the world.
On Monday, I visited the Perspectives class where the teacher talked about the basis for missions and evangelism. Is missions a duty and a task? Is it to get people to heaven? Those are good reasons for telling others about Jesus, but it’s not enough.
The foundation for missions is the glory of God.
In my simple mind, I compare the glory of God to Hello Kitty and understand what it means to glorify God. The same reason I was excited seeing Hello Kitty everywhere in Japan is the same reason for the basis for missions and why I would want everyone to know Jesus. He is so magnificent and grand, full of compassion and grace, righteous and just. I want Him to be known by everyone. I want to see Him exalted everywhere, talked about by everyone, and his glory seen among all the nations. Other gods that people worship… oh, are nothing compare to his greatness. I want people to say, “Oh, Jesus is wonderful!” His name would be glorified everywhere.
And I would be happy when He is recognized as the Lord all over the world.