Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Kirk Cameron
An Imperative Command
When Jesus told the disciples to go into all the world and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), He told them that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). You not only have Jesus’ authority, but you also have God’s Spirit. More than that, Jesus tells them to “go.” There is no plan B. This is an imperative command in the same Greek sentence structure as a Roman centurion commanding his troops. It is nonnegotiable.
Being Totally Committed
You cannot be half in for Christ. It is all or nothing. In fact, Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). There is no fence you can sit on. If you are not committed to Christ, you probably won’t be sharing Christ. Since you have the most precious thing in the universe in your hands, why not share it? Someone did with you.
The Cure for Sin
Imagine we had a miracle cure for cancer. Wouldn’t we be busting at the seams to tell others about it? Sure we would. However, when it comes to sharing the greatest cure of all, we might be too embarrassed or shy. Why? It’s the fear of man, which is a great stumbling block for us (Proverbs 29:25). Think of it this way: A child of God can share the Word of God and with the Spirit of God make the children of God for the glory of God. Now go share it!
A Heart for the Lost
The last time I was at a motel, I tried out the pool by dipping my toe in it. Wow, it was cold. I entered slowly and painfully. Now, if there were a child drowning in the pool, I wouldn’t think twice about how cold the water was. I would dive in immediately because I needed to save that child from drowning. Now, how much more bold should we be when witnessing for Christ? Should we really care about the pain of persecution this will bring? Isn’t saving a soul more important than our discomfort?
No Regrets
I doubt we’ll sit in heaven thinking, “Wow, I wished I hadn’t embarrassed myself in front of the family when I shared Christ” or “I really made my aunt mad when I told her she could only go to heaven by trusting in Christ.” No, I don’t think so. Instead, we might regret not telling more people about Christ. We might regret the times we were silent for Christ when we had the chance to share Him. There is no evangelism in heaven–only here.
Conclusion
I have found that far too many of us fear man over fearing what God tells us to do. I say “us” meaning me too. However, the way to conquer that fear is to pray to God to give you the right words to say and the love in your heart for those who will perish without Christ, having no hope for eternity. Obey Christ’s command and “go.” Be totally committed to Him. Sense the urgency of the double-quick cure to sin you have, and pray that God gives you a heart that is broken for those who will perish without Christ. In that way, you’ll have no regrets. Don’t be like the person who told me, “I don’t feel like it; it’s embarrassing.“ I told her, “I am glad someone wasn’t afraid to tell you about Christ.”
