In one of his books Kent
Hughes tells the story of a missionary to Africa who relayed the story of an
elderly woman who was reached with the Gospel. Though she was blind and could
neither read nor write, she wanted to share her new found faith with others.
The old lady realized that she only had a few years in which to do her soul
winning.
So this dear lady went to
the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible in French. When she got it,
she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was
on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one
day he followed her.
In the afternoon, just
before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out
when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read
French. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked
in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about
Christ and present the Gospel. The missionary said that before the lady died, twenty-four
of the school boys that lady led to the Lord became pastors.[1]
I think it’s safe to say
that lady packed more energy and zeal into the first and last year of her
Christian life than most do in a lifetime. She understood what Amy Carmichael
said, “We will have eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few hours
before sunset to win them.”
Moments before Jesus
ascended to heaven he left the church with marching orders, “Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).
This isn’t the Great
Suggestion, but sadly the Great Commission has become the Great Omission. He
didn't say, “If you can work it into your schedule, go and make disciples of
all nations,” or “Only those of you who are called to evangelism are to go and
make disciples of all nations. The rest of you are excused.”
No, this command has been
given to all of us, not just evangelists and pastors and missionaries. It has
been given to every follower of Jesus, including soccer moms, office workers,
students, and construction workers. I have heard people say that since they
don’t have the gift of evangelism then they are exempted from it. Where did
that come from? That’s a cop-out; the Great Commission is for every Christian.
There is no plan B—it’s up to you and me.
Yet, a 2013 Barna report
said that 47% of professed born-again Christians do not think it is their
personal responsibility to share their beliefs with those who do not know
Christ and when thousands of unchurched adults were asked why they didn’t
attend church 73% said it was because they were never invited.[2]
Just think of all that could be saved, if we simply invited.
The truth is if you have
air in your lungs and have been born-again then God has called you to a mission
field in your neighborhood, school or workplace. The reason God has placed
where He has is because only you have direct access to the people in your
social circle. If reaching the world with the Gospel were only for missionaries
and pastors it would never be accomplished.
If you were a doctor and
discovered the cure for cancer, Alzheimer’s or the common cold and you never told
a single patient how to be healed you would be a terrible physician. You would
have violated the Hippocratic Oath. So if most Christians go their entire lives
without ever sharing the only message that save people from eternal death, what
does that say about them?
As we think of the
closeness of eternity, we need to look at our opportunities and ask ourselves, “What
am I doing with what God has given me to fulfill the Great Commission?”
Perhaps, Adrian Rogers said it best, “Churches that fail to evangelize,
eventually fossilize.” That’s true of individual believers as well. Let’s ask
God to give us a renewed passion for lost souls. Because, let’s face it . . .
at one time we were one until God sent a witness. -DM
[1] R.
Kent Hughes, Colossians & Philemon:
The Supremacy of Christ (Wheaton, IL: Corssway, 1989).
[2] Mary
Schaller, “The Art of Spiritual Conversation in a Changing Culture,” Barna Group,17 July 2013 <https://www.barna.org/barna-update/culture/621-the-art-of-spiritual-conversation-in-a-changing-culture#.VD6aI_ldVAg>
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