SELF-HELPING OTHERS
I was doing my quiet time on Revelations 8-9 when an overly-familiar passage as evidenced by my highlighting of it from years back struck me differently this time. I was a new Christian when I first encountered it and was dumbfounded. “How is this possible?” I asked the Lord. Three decades later last night, I was sad.
The book prophesies one tragedy after another killing one third of the world population each time and yet “(t)he rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Rev. 9:20-21, NIV)
Sadness took over being dumbfounded given the context our world finds itself in currently. We keep hearing how this is the most opportune time to spread the gospel as people will be ripe to hear a message of hope. Surely there will be a great harvest. Surely people will be changed for the kingdom after this. Surely our churches will be added more than 3000 daily when it is safe to go face-to-face. It saddens me that this might not be the case in light of the passage. If a series of plagues can’t bring about mass repentance, what is one pandemic where news of a vaccine is within sight? What’s the point of distributing gospel tracts then? What’s the point of donating Bibles? What’s the point of those who got infected for the sake of the ministry? And then the Lord gave me another familiar passage for an answer.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15, NIV)
Jesus told us to go and preach without giving us a quota (1 Cor. 3:6), not even a single soul for a harvest for the point is our obedience.
I am no evangelist but since the start of this pandemic, I have been giving out tracts to whomsoever crosses my path both offline and online including the one who swindled me. And reflecting on this, I realized that although I don’t know how many (or if there’s any at all) had been changed, I find that I have been changed.
Like I said, I am no evangelist. I would much rather be in the friendly confines of a bible study group but eight months of doing it over and over, I find that it gets easier each time that it has become second nature. In fact, it’s almost like “first nature.” I don’t even think about it anymore; I just do it. And as I continue to do it, I discover more and more of its beauty. I understand more and more of its amazing grace. It gives me hope as it refreshes me like a plantita caring for her babies. It keeps my eyes focused on Him, not on the fear, as it plays like a song playing in a loop.
I understand how some might find it difficult to carry out this mandate as I was like that too but think about this: it is a bit easy compared to if Jesus had added, “and preach the gospel to all creation wherein there must be a 25% positive rate response. If you don’t meet the target, I will double it until your name is blotted out.” Aren’t we glad that the Kingdom does not operate like an assurance company? Let’s take assurance of that and find the purpose of mind to obey. It’s even very therapeutic. It’s the best self-help as we help others take stock of their spiritual selves.
I was doing my quiet time on Revelations 8-9 when an overly-familiar passage as evidenced by my highlighting of it from years back struck me differently this time. I was a new Christian when I first encountered it and was dumbfounded. “How is this possible?” I asked the Lord. Three decades later last night, I was sad.
The book prophesies one tragedy after another killing one third of the world population each time and yet “(t)he rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Rev. 9:20-21, NIV)
Sadness took over being dumbfounded given the context our world finds itself in currently. We keep hearing how this is the most opportune time to spread the gospel as people will be ripe to hear a message of hope. Surely there will be a great harvest. Surely people will be changed for the kingdom after this. Surely our churches will be added more than 3000 daily when it is safe to go face-to-face. It saddens me that this might not be the case in light of the passage. If a series of plagues can’t bring about mass repentance, what is one pandemic where news of a vaccine is within sight? What’s the point of distributing gospel tracts then? What’s the point of donating Bibles? What’s the point of those who got infected for the sake of the ministry? And then the Lord gave me another familiar passage for an answer.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15, NIV)
Jesus told us to go and preach without giving us a quota (1 Cor. 3:6), not even a single soul for a harvest for the point is our obedience.
I am no evangelist but since the start of this pandemic, I have been giving out tracts to whomsoever crosses my path both offline and online including the one who swindled me. And reflecting on this, I realized that although I don’t know how many (or if there’s any at all) had been changed, I find that I have been changed.
Like I said, I am no evangelist. I would much rather be in the friendly confines of a bible study group but eight months of doing it over and over, I find that it gets easier each time that it has become second nature. In fact, it’s almost like “first nature.” I don’t even think about it anymore; I just do it. And as I continue to do it, I discover more and more of its beauty. I understand more and more of its amazing grace. It gives me hope as it refreshes me like a plantita caring for her babies. It keeps my eyes focused on Him, not on the fear, as it plays like a song playing in a loop.
I understand how some might find it difficult to carry out this mandate as I was like that too but think about this: it is a bit easy compared to if Jesus had added, “and preach the gospel to all creation wherein there must be a 25% positive rate response. If you don’t meet the target, I will double it until your name is blotted out.” Aren’t we glad that the Kingdom does not operate like an assurance company? Let’s take assurance of that and find the purpose of mind to obey. It’s even very therapeutic. It’s the best self-help as we help others take stock of their spiritual selves.