In a single day, thousands of people die. Many aren’t Christians. Some wouldn’t dare step foot in a church for any occasion.
That gives us, the Christians, a terrifying dilemma: thousands of souls are eternally separated from their Creator every day. We are running out of time to reach the lost with a direction-giving God. Running out of time to hand them a life-transforming Gospel. Running out of time to touch their hearts, heal their sick, and carry their burdens.
If that doesn’t splinter your heart, what does?
The Best News Ever
“Gospel” means “good news.” So that gives the question: What is this “good news”?
The Good News is that you deserve death and can’t buy life, yet the Creator loved you so much that He sent His only Son to be the scapegoat on your behalf.
Let’s break that down.
What is the Good News?
You deserve nothing.
You pay nothing.
You receive everything.
Tell me with an honest heart that right there is not the best news you could ever give someone.
Go, For I Am With You
Many people are familiar with Matthew 28:19–20, commonly referred to as “The Great Commission.” It says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”
Most of us like to ignore that little snippet. We don’t like the thought of converting people. It’s too scary!
We echo Moses’ question in Exodus 3:11, “Who am I…?” We bite our nails and pretend to do something worthwhile (Matthew 24:44).
But you have been called—yes, you!
We Talk Love But Walk in Hate
We say we love God, but then we use His name in a not God-honoring way. And we say we love people but are we being honest?
There are some awful people out there. Do you love them? Love them as much as you love yourself?
Because Jesus died for them.
He rose on their behalf.
You can say, “God is love; therefore, I love everyone,” but are you being honest?
God Calls the Unexpected
Honestly, I am terrible at evangelism. Sometimes, I’m downright terrified of it.
But maybe you, like me, hate the bubble you sit in while unbelievers prance towards a cliff.
Some days, it physically hurts.
Yet we tell ourselves that we’re not good enough or strong enough to pull them away, or we’re just kidding ourselves to think that we’ll ever be adequate or worthy.
Let God call someone else, we say. There are plenty of other believers. They’re not doing anything either.
But did you know that God calls people who didn’t expect it?
Moses had a stuttering problem and wanted his brother to speak for him. Jeremiah and Timothy were young. Esther was a Jewish girl living with her uncle.
The very end of Matthew records Jesus saying, “I am with you always.” That isn’t the first time God said He is always with us.
So here are my questions for you:
When was the last time you discussed God—with anyone?
When was the last time that person was an unbeliever?
Did you declare the Good News? Did you say it with joy? Did you say it in love?
Why are you afraid?
We don’t need the Gospel as fire insurance, to feel good inside, or because we grew up with it.
We need the Gospel because we need God.
Time is Ticking
Don’t wait until you’re older, smarter, less busy, or whatever excuse you use time and again. Don’t wait until the probability of failure hits 0.000001%.
Following God’s call is not failure.
Being refused, called names, excluded, or criticized is not failure but being recognized as having Jesus in you (John 15:19).
Do not take your chances for granted because failure is when you quit because nobody converted the instant you said the name “Jesus” in public.
Failure is when worry shorts out your Holy Spirit Radar and you walk away from an opportunity.
Failure is when you ignore the Master’s commands.
For too many Christians, evangelism seems like one of those commands we can—and maybe should—ignore.
But it’s not.
Go.
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