“And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14
From the Scripture above, our role in hastening the coming of the end is very clear. Christ’s coming, as well as the coming of the end, is tied to the gospel being preached as a testimony to all ethnic groups in the world. The phrase, “and then” is a conditional statement. That is, when the gospel gets to all tribes & tongues, all people groups, all ethnic groups, even if it is for a testimony that they have heard, it is only then we can expect the end. This seems to be the only remaining thing listed in the signs of Christ’s coming that has not taken place. If there is anything we can do to get the gospel preached to all tribes, ethnic /people groups in the world and we do it, we are speeding up His coming.
First, the matter of evangelism wherever we are has to be taken seriously. Apart from the hostile environments where opposing religions exist, places where evangelism is gradually becoming extinct are regions:
- Where there is proliferation of churches
- Where almost everyone has a form of godliness but deny the power thereof
- Where everyone on the street can quote “John 3:16”
- Where many go to churches on Sundays but do not have any encounter with Jesus
- Where evangelism has been equated to other church activities and programmes
Evangelism is a skill that is learnt and if not practiced can be lost. The devil fights so hard to weaken it. being a part of the armour, a believer is supposed to put on (Ephesians 6:15). A return to biblical concepts of evangelism is a sure tool to hastening Christ’s coming. Every believer has to learn how to evangelize and must make it a lifestyle. Jesus had to teach his disciples how to evangelize by showing them how to do it on a daily basis and making them practice it (Luke 10:1).
Secondly, “missions” (evangelism and discipleship among other cultures) has to be a priority. Missions is the only vehicle that carries the gospel to the unreached and it is one thing we must get involved in, in order to hasten His coming. However, if conventional evangelism among people of the same language and culture is this difficult, how much more evangelism among people of other languages and cultures?
The missionaries on the fields need to take language and culture acquisition seriously, so that they can be able to effectively evangelize and disciple their targets in their own language and in the context of their culture. There is no alternative to this, if we have to do a lasting work among the nations. The seriousness with which a field missionary takes the issue of language and culture learning is an index to measure his future success. However, language and culture learning is hard work and a serious business. It is not for lazy men.
Also, of utmost importance regarding the issue of missions and the coming of our Lord are the need for labourers and the need to fund them. It was the heart desire of Jesus in Luke 10:2,
“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Our king has expressed his desire, like King David did in 2 Samuel 23:15-16,
And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David.”
Will you be one of the “three mighty men” (labourers) who will damn all the consequences and break into the camp of the enemy to bring the desired harvest to our King and thereby hasten His coming or will you release your resources for these men to make their work easier?
The Lord is counting on you!
Are you wondering how to get started in playing your role in evangelism and missions? Join the upcoming Online Short-Term Missions Training to be equipped for Kingdom Exploits. Contact us now details of the upcoming missions training.
