"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first
and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
I was about twelve years old when the accident
happened. At the time, I was standing on the balcony of my parents' 5th floor
apartment. I loved to watch from above as the tiny-looking people scurried
along, but that day my attention was drawn to a young lad crossing a street. He
hadn't checked for traffic before leaving the sidewalk, and from my vantage
point, I could see something that he could not see from his: A car, driving well
over the speed limit, was coming his way.
"NO!" I yelled, but the word was hardly out of my
mouth when the boy was struck by that speeding car.
Even though I didn't know him, I felt so sad. Would he
survive?
It is an innate reaction for us to want to warn people
about catastrophes. It's our way of showing we care, for who in their right mind
would ignore someone heading for catastrophe?
When we lived in Tucson, Arizona, 30 years ago, we
sometimes experienced days when it rained so much that some of the roads became
quite dangerous. Anyone crossing these roads would be in danger of being washed
away, and eventually of drowning. Anyone would do anything to warn these people:
"Don't cross! It is very dangerous!" Shouldn't we be the same towards the lost
world?
In keeping with this, just before Christ was taken
back up into heaven, He gave us a mandate: "But you shall receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
His last words shouldn't surprise us. After all, "For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (ASV). If
Jesus cared so much for each one of us, shouldn't we care as well? Wouldn't we
want to warn them that there are only two options? "He will answer them, 'I can
guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or
sisters, no matter how unimportant {they seemed}, you failed to do for me.'
These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God's approval
will go into eternal life." Matthew 25:45-46 (GW).
The first century Christians took Christ's mandate to
heart. They spread and spread, announcing the good news to everyone. According
to Acts 2:41, the church grew from 120 to 3000. Acts 2:46-47 tells us Jesus
added to their number daily. In Act 6:1,7 we see that the numbers were
increasing rapidly. Acts 9:35 states that the churches were strengthening and
multiplying, and we learn in Acts 11:20-21 that many Greeks accepted Christ in
Antioch. Within 19 years, the disciples were accused of turning the world upside
down. 30 years later, the number of Christ's followers had multiplied
4-hundredfold. By the fourth century, there were more than ten to twelve million
Christians, and they just kept on multiplying. Why? Because they cared. Jesus
gave them a mandate and they followed in His footsteps.
Shouldn't we become like these first disciples who
broadcasted the truth all over the world so that none would miss the opportunity
to receive salvation? It is true that some of us are not too keen on witnessing.
We are too afraid of ridicule. After all, no one likes to be mocked. At the same
time, however, would we prefer to ignore them, and thus be the cause of them
eventually missing the boat of salvation?
The first century disciples endured way more than we
will ever have to face. Check out the following texts:
"You suffered with prisoners. You were cheerful even
though your possessions were stolen, since you know that you have a better and
more permanent possession." Hebrews 10:34 (GW)
" "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought
up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to [the] exactness
of the law of [our] fathers, being zealous for God, as you are all this day; who
have persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both
men and women." Acts 22:3-4 (Darby)
These early Christians lost everything, but though we
would think they would be in despair, they weren't: "Dear friends, don't be
surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don't feel
as though something strange is happening to you, but be happy as you share
Christ's sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in
his glory. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed
because the Spirit of glory-the Spirit of God-is resting on you." 1 Peter
4:12-14 (GW)
Do you see that kid crossing the street? Look! That
car is out of control!
What will you do about it?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.