“…That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:6
If there is one dominating message that must be communicated to the church, the body of believers in Christ, today, it is that the message of the Gospel is to be preached to the ends of the earth. Why? It is because Christ died for all men, every man. It was Isaiah who wrote, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.” (45:22) Isaiah wrote these tremendous words in the time of Cyrus, when the exiled Jews were called upon to return to the land of Israel, there to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Cyrus was used of God to bring a relative peace to the then known world, but also, to command that the temple, which had been destroyed, would be rebuilt. Despite delays by those opposing the rebuilding project, and the slowly encroaching attitude of the complacency by the returned exiles, the temple would be rebuilt. Why was this so very important? It was, and is, as God is truly worshipped His way, by the Spirit for His glory, that the message of His saving grace can be spread throughout the world, to both Jew and Gentile alike. When Israel turned wholly to the Lord, and received not only cleansing from her sins, not only was there forgiveness of sin, and the washing from its filth, but as David put it, God gave the desire and will to “…teach transgressors Thy ways,” and sinners shall be converted to Thee.” (Ps. 51:13) The natural fruit of a restored soul is the desire, and strength of will, given by God, to engage in Christ’s work, answering His commission to go into ALL the world, and make disciples of men. That commission, though now over two thousand years old, has not lost its legitimacy, nor its imperative realization. From the demon-possessed Gadarean man who was delivered completely, to whom Jesus spoke: “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord had done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee,”(Mark. 5:19), to the disciples, after the resurrection hearing the Lord’s command: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19), the issue of reaching the world for Christ was paramount. This theme runs throughout Scripture, not only for the Jewish nation, but for all other nations and peoples. “All have sinned,” and need the Savior’s saving grace. What then must be said about our opportunity?
In what is termed, “The Lord’s Prayer,” the Lord Jesus speaks of DAILY bread.” (Matt. 6:11) Also, in this Sermon on the Mount, He speaks of seeking first the Kingdom of God, and this, one day at a time, refusing to be anxious about the next day. (6:33,34) In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul writes: “Now He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (9:10) The believer is called to abundantly sow unsparingly the seed which God gives. He is called to believe that God is able, and will, make all grace abound in every good work. Scripture tells us that the believer is to sow in the morning and evening, casting one’s bread upon many waters. To Israel the Lord would declare: “Enlarge the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations, spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.” (Isaiah 54:2) The call to every believer today is to use well the time, and the resources of Gods’ provision, especially those in Christ given by the Spirit, to reach the world for Christ. The spreading of the Gospel, that sowing of the precious and powerful truths of salvation, is essential if disciples are to be won, and God be glorified.
Dear Father, Make us fully faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.