Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. – Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission is not something that you can outsource. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that by donating to missions organizations who plant churches or feed the poor, that they are somehow obeying their duty to make disciples by proxy. They believe that by equipping others that their responsibility to witness to the lost is satisfied. This is false and this is unbiblical. Even though there are people whom God has blessed with the opportunity to make ministry their vocation, those who have “secular” jobs need to understand that the harvest is plenty everywhere. The reality is that those of us who work in vocational ministry have to be intentional when looking to witness while those of you who are surrounded by the lost day in and day out have the privilege to work in your own mission fields. You must realize that one does not need to travel across an ocean to be a missionary. One only needs to talk to their neighbors and their friends. God has placed you where you are for a purpose. The lost people who surround you need you to do your duty and save them from an eternity regretting never letting Jesus take the punishment for their sins.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; – Matthew 9:37
Living our lives on mission is not something we Christians do, but a central part of being a Christian. We are the hands and feet of God and by sitting by and hoping that others will reach out to the lost for us, we are failing the Body of Christ. Personally, the last thing I want when it is time to give account for my life is having to explain why I was too lazy or too scared to try to save the souls of those around me. There are people who you know personally that are heading to hell and refusing to aid them in the journey to salvation makes you complicit in that. This is not just in regards to unreached people groups. This is your co-worker who has never had a good experience with a Christian. This is the man who cuts your lawn who has grown up a cultural Christian and who has never known what it means to love God. Being faithful to God means being faithful to His image bearers and fighting tooth and nail to try to save as many as you can. Most will not be receptive but that isn’t the point. Throw your seeds and hope that the Holy Spirit works in them. To do otherwise is disobedience.
Living your life on Mission means exactly what that sounds like. It means placing your worldly desires on the back burner while figuring out how to take as many people with you to paradise as possible. It means coming to the realization that this life is but an eye blink in comparison to the eternity that you will have in the presence of God and to treat it as such. It is difficult to reconcile an obsession with a home or a car when an inherited universe is waiting. It is difficult to be consumed with your next job or how much money you are making when the God of the universe has given you His love and reconciliation. It should also make it difficult to stand by and do nothing when you realize that this short life has eternal consequences.
I am aware that the desire to live your life devoted to God and His Great Commission is difficult and is getting more so in this culture. Just a few decades ago, being an atheist was unusual and could get you ostracized in a community, but it is quickly becoming the reverse. The day is fast approaching when even mentioning the words, “Jesus is Lord!” will come with negative consequences. When simply telling people that God loves them and that He has a purpose for them will lead to lost jobs, lost business or possibly even worse. The fires of persecution might very well spread over the United States like it has through so many others and it might even happen in our life time. This might be scary and this might cause a desire to flee or to at least keep quiet, but God does not call us to live the safe life; He calls us to live the life that brings Him glory. To be a true follower of Christ requires living a life on mission and a life of mission. To live a life that is dedicated to God and a life that is given to God. We must all be willing to suffer or even give our lives for the Gospel. Are you ready?
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, – Philippians 1:29
