Acts 1:6-8
“6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times
or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
While our Lord was here on this earth, His disciples asked
several times, when He would restore His earthly kingdom. Every time He
responded by telling them that the time was not yet and that it was not for
them to know the time. We have the same answer today. Many have been asking in
every generation since our Lord left when He would return. But we know that
time is not yet. We are promised He could come at any time. We are also told to
work till He comes.
The Lord's churches are commanded to preach the gospel to
all the world. Our Lord gave clear instruction on this. We are to start in our
local area first(Jerusalem). Then to our state or province(Judaea) then to our
nation(Samaria). Then to the rest of the world. This was the Lord's plan for
spreading His Gospel to all the world.
Today we see churches who have sent missionaries or are
supporting missionaries all over the world. And what a great work for our Lord
these churches have done over the years. Our Lord's Gospel has reached many of
His elect all over the world through the work of many of His churches. And
praise the Lord many of these works are on going and show no sign of ending
anytime soon.
Along with the Gospel, many churches have been established
in remote places and even some of those have began to send out missionaries to
other areas.
But why are we seeing a decline in the numbers in the Lord's
churches in the developed world? Why are so many following after false teachers
and false doctrine? Why are the youth and even some older, leaving the true
churches and following the ways of the world?
All these questions and many more can be answered in one
answer. The Lord's churches have failed at being missionaries in their local
areas, in their states/provinces, and in their own nations.
While we have spent untold amounts of money and resources to
spread the Gospel and to start churches all over the world we have forgotten
our work here at home. Now please understand, I am all for foreign missions. I
do believe the Lord's churches have an obligation to send missionaries to
foreign lands. But the fact of the matter is while we have been concerned with
the rest of the world we have forgotten our own.
I have heard it said many times; “our greatest mission field
is here in the United States. In our own backyards.” But what are we doing
about that? What can we do?
Christian parents and grandparents, start at home. Make sure
your children and grandchildren are trained up in the Word of God. Not just by
reading watered down Bible stories from a “children's bible”. Teach them from
God's Word. Be an example of Godly parents and grandparents. This is an area we
all fail in. We have become so busy in our everyday lives we spend little time
as a family learning together from God's Word.
Churches? Start in your neighborhood or your community. Many
church building were originally built to support a local community or
neighborhood. How many of people in your area attend the church where you are?
I see in many cases where the majority and sometimes all of the members of a
church drive from great distance because there is not a true church where they
live. And that is great that people are willing to do that. But what about the
people where the church building sits? Are we reaching out our friends and
neighbors with the Gospel? We think we are doing a great work by sending money
and supplies to a missionary on the other side of the world. But what about
those in our own communities and neighborhoods and cities who have never heard
the Gospel? What about those who have heard the Gospel but have never joined a
true church or have no idea what the Word of God says about joining a true
church?
Then there is our nation. Here in the United States and Canada
we are seeing a rapid decline in the things of God in our society. The people
have elected politicians who care nothing for the Word of God. Sin runs rampant
in our nations. Sodomy and murder of unborn children is the new normal. So many
refuse to obey the laws of the land and the magistrates and judges allow the
criminals to go free. We live in a society that has become blind to sin. Yet
the people(and yes, even God's people) love to have it so. Are we reaching this
society with the Gospel? Are we presenting the good news of our Lord and Savior
to a lost and dying world?
Churches, follow the Lord's Great Commission. Preach the
Gospel unto all the world but don't forget that also includes our homes, or
local areas and our own nations. But also remember don't just stop with the
Gospel. Make disciples of Christ from those who profess to know Him. Train them
in the way they must go. Teach them to follow Christ with every step they make.
Praise ye the Lord!!!
