“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14
The justice and righteousness of God, in all of its wisdom and applications to the lives of men, is perfect. Yet, in that word “perfect” we have difficulty in grasping the dimensions, and the intertwinings of God’s justice, with His mercy and love. One thing we can be assured of is that His compassion moves Him to go and seek the lone, lost sheep in the wilderness. How can we explain how that He would do this, the Great Shepherd seeking even a single poor, helpless, and wayward sheep? Jesus would even tell His disciples, of His unrelenting desire: “…And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I MUST BRING; and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (Jn. 10:16)
In the book of Revelation, we see in heaven, representatives of every kindred, and people, and naton. (Rev. 5:9) They are all singing the same song, an anthem of worship to the Lamb, who had redeemed them to God by His precious blood. God, in His mercy, grace, and righteousness, has found and saved this multitude out of every nation, down to every tribe, and tongue. The Everlasting Gospel, even during the period of the Tribulation, will be proclaimed, or preached, “…unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindren, and tongue and people.” (14:6) At that period of time, though it be a period of judgment and the unleashing of the wrath of God, the gospel will be proclaimed with a loud voice, clear and powerful: “Fear God, and give glory to Him: for the hour of His judgment is come, and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (14:7) Even in the midst of very troublous times, the call of God, by His outstretched hand shall go forth over the earth to find every single soul who will truly turn to Him to be saved. But what of today? What is the call of God to the church, His body in this world? The answer begins with a command, then with an outpouring of His Spirit, and then with the seeking heart, who seeks to know his specific calling in this great endeavor to reach the world for Christ.
It would be after His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, that Christ would designate a certain mountain in Galilee where He would reveal Himself to his disciples, there to give them final instructions before His ascension. His words resound unto this very day: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, bapizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:18,19) The first thing we need to see about this command, or commission to the church, is that it is based upon the power of God. The Lord Jesus speaks of this “power given unto Him” by the Father, communicated by the Spirit, as being “ALL” power in its scope, extending everywhere, having great effect throughout heaven and in the earth. In other words, God’s work is done by God. These disciples before him are still helplessly weak and unable to fulfill such a command, especially because it is spiritual, and dealing with spiritual forces opposing it. The disciples need to see clearly that the command of Christ, though it is a call to commitment, is a call to know the very power of Christ in the reaching of the world with the Gospel. Paul would later write concerning the members of His body being “co-laborers” with God, under the control and blessing of the Spirit. Also, it must be realized that there is no place where Christ will guide the disciple that His all-sufficient and abundant power, is not available to him to accomplish God’s will. In the place of His choosing, Christ’s fulness is provided.
Dear Father, Empower us to serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.