This past year has been one of unprecedented acts, incidents and developments which have sent signals that the coming of Jesus draws near, for the nations of the world cannot continue much longer on their current trajectory. Several developments took place which point us to the soon return of Jesus Christ in the heavens, and ought to guide our outlook for this coming year. Europe seems to be fracturing, thus bringing many years of mutual cooperation to an end, if the Brexit initiative goes through.
There has also been a rattling of the nations, where former friends have become foes, and instability in the world at large is now your everyday experience. Political gridlock is the order of the day, and crimes of hate and crimes against humanity have now risen to levels not previously seen. The unending opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc across America and the deadly Ebola virus is again on the rise in the democratic republic of Congo.
Sex scandals continue to rock church congregations, and skeletons once thought safely buried, are now falling out of closets at an alarming rate. The faith, and confidence of many church-bound folks is being severely shaken anew, with revelations of scandals of no ordinary character. Clergymen who were once confessed to by parishioners, are now in dire need of confession themselves, and the roles of the two in the confessional box now seem to be reversed.
Hurricanes have intensified with increasing ferocity, and abnormally heavy rainfall has now added to the toxic mix, displacing millions, and draining needed resources to dangerously low levels. Wild fires also increased, with the worst and costliest taking place this year in California. All the while, millions across the land seem to bask in irrational exuberance, as if things must continue as they have in years gone by.
Stock markets around the world are in turmoil too, for after coming off an unprecedented, rapid rise to 26,828.39 set on October 3, 2018 the Dow Jones industrial has since then plummeted precipitously falling nearly 4000 points in less than three months; and the wild swings in financial markets reflect the instability and uncertainty being experienced by the nations.
Financial delusions have gripped millions, for many folks have not yet considered that the spiritual and temporal are uniquely and inseparably combined, with one affecting the other. Jezebel and Ahab had erroneously concluded that their sins, and idolatry would not affect the economy adversely, but sacred history shows us that disobedience to God’s moral law inevitably results in famines, pestilences, and disasters of all sorts. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
And the carnage continues, for what goes up must come down and the higher the climb, the lower will be the fall, because throughout the history of every nation, there has been cyclical highs and lows, and times of plenty have often been followed by times of empty.
Investigations into fraud and malpractice continue, with many more on the horizon, as the baton, and hammer are passed on to a new congress. Political impasse, and grandstanding have taken a national toll on the populace this past year, with no end in sight. Thus, we are opening this new year, not on a high note of peace and prosperity, but with a sense of uncertainty and instability brewing at our doors.
It is against this backdrop that our outlook for the new year must be shaped, because, as Christians, who look forward to the coming of a better world, governed by a stable, reasonable, and merciful king, we are not to be found groveling in our political or financial woes; instead we are to look up, knowing that our redemption draws nigh, and as such, every person who has espoused Christ should plan to take proactive steps in hastening His kingdom.
Do not be deceived, no man has the answers to our most pressing problems, for try as we might to free ourselves from one problem, a greater one appears, and instead of digging ourselves out of the rut we’re digging ourselves further into the mire. This is why Christians are under the most solemn obligation to impact our dying world for the better, for the Bible holds the key to man’s restoration, and it is found only in Christ. Let’s read:
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
Isaiah 45:21 There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Therefore, seeing that God has given to us believers the ministry of reconciliation, it will be well for us to take an introspect look at our plans, purposes, and aspirations, to see if we are fulfilling the purpose for which we have been called by Jesus. If we are only consumers, expecting great sermons, great concerts and a flurry of church activities which cater only to ourselves, then we will fall far short of God’s ideal will for us.
Instead we should be asking God to show us where we can make a marked difference in our world, for the upliftment of His kingdom, and for the benefit of humanity. This is the perspective that should run pervasively in our thoughts, producing concrete and commensurate actions to the glory of God. Inactive Christians do more harm than good according to the words of Christ, for satan will always find work for idle hands to do. Always! Let’s read:
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.
In harmony with this mandate given to us by Jesus Himself it is high time that we take up the mantle of faithful and willing service in the Lord’s vineyard. This is not to be done in a half-hearted, or slipshod manner, as is to often the case, neither should it be done impulsively, without well-directed effort, after one of those soul-stirring sermons.
Instead, our work should be the result of prayerful surrender to God, for use in His service as He sees best. It must be a well-thought out sustainable plan, under the direction and guidance of God, so that we can help to advance the interests of His kingdom, by reaching out to those who are in darkness. In other words, every true Christian, facing the headwinds described above, and looking for the soon return of Jesus, should be involved in ministry of some sort.
The following passages, therefore, are the scriptural instructions on how this may be accomplished, for through prayer, a united front, and well-directed effort on the part of believers, there is nothing that God cannot do, for the salvation of souls. Christ is calling on us to use the resources, talents, and gifts He has given us, for in-reach and outreach, but for more of the latter, for it is God’s will that all men should come to a knowledge of the truth.
Everyone is not called to do the exact same thing, for the gifts of The Spirit are diversified in nature, so as to minister to the several needs of those in need. Bible workers, elders, and preachers are not more important than those who have been given the gift of prayer; and deacons and administrators have an equal responsibility according to their several ability as was the case in the early church. In other words, Dorcas used her gift of sewing to reach people, just as much as Paul used his gift of preaching to save souls.
But whether by preaching, by sewing, or by tent-making, one main purpose and goal pervaded the minds of the believers, just as it should in our day, that the gospel is to be taken into all the world, in our neck of the woods, and to every inhabitable place on the planet. Thus, with this far-reaching scope of Christ’s mandate to us, let no one conclude that there is nothing that I can do. Let’s read:
Ephesians 4:8 When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Now, some of us might be prone to say that the above list does not include me personally, for I’m not a prophet, pastor, teacher or an evangelist. It is not necessary for us to be any of those things, for the Bible goes on to mention several other areas in which we can serve effectively, thus contributing to the advancement of God’s cause in the earth. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
One of the main problems associated with the fulfillment of Christ’s mandate is that only a few people try to do everything in the church, making inefficiency and inconsistency a hallmark of too many congregations. On the other hand, some of us often succumb to the temptation, that if no one wants to do it, then I must, and before you know it, elders have become seamstresses, prayer warriors, janitors, cooks, and board members, all in one incoherent, jumbled mix.
This will inevitably lead to premature fatigue, with some members often going to the other extreme by taking no responsibilities whatsoever. Therefore, in order for there to be a smooth, cohesive running of all the wheels, we should inquire of God: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” And then, with a firm purpose, trusting in the power and energy of God, we should set our minds and our hearts to do God’s will consistently, for the long haul.
This will then cause us to show up faithfully at the prayer meeting if only two or three people attend, without becoming down-couraged. Our service is not to be based on accolades, or how many people attend, even though we should encourage others to do so. In other words, our motivations and energies will come from a different source, other than praise and numbers.
Again, many become idle because they have not yet figured out their gift. That’s not a problem, because we can start with what we naturally like to do best, without having to be prodded to do so. Some have a natural gift of cooking, then cook for Christ’s sake, and win souls to His kingdom via pots and spoons. Others have a knack for visiting the less fortunate, or for prayer, as the case might be. Then, do it for Christ’s sake.
All God asks of us is that we commit to a consistent, dependable service and He will bring us into contact with everyone whom He seeks to save through our ministry. But if our service is left up to spontaneity, when we feel to do it, then it becomes difficult for God to use us in an efficient manner.
Therefore, the call of duty goes out to all who have become idle, to those who are missing in action, to those who are sitting on the fence and also to those who are consumers only. The place is here, and the time is now, that we engage the world proactively in our several capacities so that the coming of Christ may be hastened.
As was stated before, there is no such thing as a Christian without a gift; thus, we are to take up the mantle of duty, doing faithfully what God wants us to do, and the Lord will add to the church daily, such as should be saved. With this outlook for the new year in mind, let us be encouraged with these passages of scripture which should prompt us all to immediate action. Let’s read:
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
God Bless!