From the Preacher’s Pen…
As we surveyed the Old Testament we noticed that everything pointed to Christ. Hopefully as we complete our survey of the New Testament today we continued to notice the exact same thing. Jesus Christ is the focus of all of God’s word. He is the author of everything from creation to salvation.
With the New Testament there also comes one other important focus… evangelism. Taking the news of Moses’ Law from God to other peoples and nations was never a part of the Old Testament world. But to Christians the taking of the good news of Jesus Christ is the central part of our mission, our lives in service to God’s Kingdom.
The Great Commission sets the New Testament apart from the Old as clearly and definitively as does the sacrifice of Jesus that gives meaning to all we do. Think about that for a moment!
God reminds us how beautiful are the feet of those who rush to serve the Lord! You’ll find that thought echoed by Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7) and again by Paul (Romans 10:15). So it’s appropriate that we keep God’s focus on evangelism, remind ourselves and challenge ourselves to keep up the good work. We need to keep telling others of Christ and inviting them to come with us to be part of God’s eternal family!
Evangelism
Since, as Christians we are always focused on evangelism, we need to keep in mind how easy it is to become discouraged. Satan could better tolerate almost any other theme from Christians than this one, thus he is going to be most active in discouraging it. The vital thing for us to see and remember is that Satan is losing!
A while back I read a report from a preacher in the Lord’s Church in Athens, Greece. He told of a Syrian geologist who was raised in another religion but had now put on his Lord in baptism to become a New Testament Christian. The man plans to return to Syria after studying at one of the brotherhood schools of preaching and establish a church there (no known congregation exists in Syria at present). Another man, this one a “priest” doing extra educational studies, had given up his “priesthood”, and instead undertook studies (also at one of the schools of preaching) to equip himself to preach and teach God’s word. Of course those of us in Casa Grande have heard the stories of many among the Muslim world that have become Christians because of some of our Bible teachers in the congregation here.
These stories are repeated almost daily in places all over the world. Evangelistic work is in progress in countless countries, many of them impossible to get into just a few years ago. People are responding to the Gospel of Jesus and striving (many times in the face of great obstacles) to faithfully serve Him.
The world is changing in so many ways and none so important as the open doors to the Gospel. Our world, our town, our neighborhood are filled with souls that are lost in sin, slaves to Satan and they don’t even know it. Don’t miss your opportunities to tell them of the Savior!
Unfortunately, we sometimes fail to clearly communicate the Good News. Consider this silly little story just because it illustrates how we sometimes fail to really communicate:
- Christian: Are you a member of the Christian family?
- Non–Christian: No, I think they live two miles down the road in the white house on the left.
- Christian: Let me try again. Are you lost?
- Non–Christian: No, I’ve lived in this town for over thirty years now. I know right where I am.
- Christian: Let me put it this way—are you ready for the Judgment Day?
- Non–Christian: When will it be?
- Christian: Could be today, could be tomorrow!
- Non–Christian: Well, when you know exactly, be sure to let me know. My wife will probably want to go on both days.
Let your friends and neighbors see Jesus in you, in how you care, in what you do. Tell them of the Jesus that is your friend, your Savior. And if you don’t feel you know Him well enough to share that way, then get to know the real Jesus.
People the world over know Coca–Cola is the real thing! Certainly we can be as active in sharing the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ who died to save us all, as we are in promoting soda pop!
Do you want to see Satan losing this week? Do you want to see the success of God, His word and His people? Then be an active part of God’s Kingdom. Tell someone of Jesus this week. Invite someone to come with you to worship and study God’s word. Live, talk and act like a child of the King!
— Lester P. Bagley