THE CHRISTIAN PURPOSE
Winter is history, thank God, and summer is upon us. We will be spending much more time in the outdoors with our families and friends. It is a time to enjoy nature as God intended. There is another consideration of God's intentions and it involves us. Those of us who have accepted Jesus as Savior are not only to enjoy the peace and security offered by Him, but there are other things He wants us to do. The Bible is very clear as to what we are to do with the Good News of salvation. We have a very definite purpose while we are here on this earth and we should very seriously consider what it is. The way I see it, Jesus came into the world with two main objectives: the first one was to tell the world the Good News of salvation, and the second one was to offer Himself as the sacrificial lamb on the cross to pay for the sin of mankind. This He did because His Father wanted Him to. In the gospel of John 17:18, Jesus reiterated to the Father the reason He was sent into the world: "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Please note He also proclaimed He is sending them (the disciples) into the world for the same purpose. In John 20:21, Jesus says, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Please notice in these verses that Jesus is praying to the Father, a conversational prayer, if you will. He does not offer up a structured prayer. He prays and talks as He wants us to pray and talk to Him, i.e., to thank Him, tell Him how we feel, tell Him of our needs and the needs of others, ask Him for guidance, pray for more souls to be won, and many more reasons.
My question to you is if you had a very dear friend who had a serious problem and you had the solution, what would you do? Keep silent? Or would you do the right thing and tell him you have the solution. They may not listen to you, they may think you are interfering with their lives, but the point is you or anyone who might hold the answer to the problem, in all good conscience, should tell them. And it is obvious that we must be convinced that, indeed, we have the solution. After reading the Glorious Appearing, I wanted to scream to the world to accept Jesus. Perhaps you should consider how you would feel if your best friend were not in Heaven with you and you ask God why not. And He responds with the following: 'I don't recall you ever telling your friend about the Good News; oh yes I do recall your thinking your lifestyle was sufficient.'
I know that what I have just written is audacious and presumptuous, therefore I rest my case and turn to the Word of God and see what it says. It isn't what I say; it's what God is telling us. In Luke 8:39, Jesus told the man He had just healed to go home and tell the people what He did for him; 'Return home and tell how much God has done for you." In Acts 20:24; Paul speaks of his purpose to tell others about the grace of God; "However I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 1:8 tells us we are to be His witness, (not the judge and jury, just the witness); …and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Ephesians 3:11 explains that God's eternal purpose was carried out in Jesus; "…according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." 1st Peter 3:15 encourages us to be ready at all times to tell others about the hope we have in us; "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (Sometimes we might be able to prompt a question like that from others). I could fill a book with scripture telling us that our purpose in this life is to tell others about Jesus. I leave you with Mark 16:15, "Jesus said to His followers, 'go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.'"
I remain your friend and servant, Nick Number 23
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