We’d gone down to Gore, the closest small town to the lake cabin in order to eat at a tea room called Emily’s, located in a little local antique-junk store. Mark and I ate, and then he agreed to sit and read while I browsed around. After several minutes we gathered our things and loaded up the car to head back up the hill toward the cabin. It was a hot and mostly humid July day, with very little wind stirring for Oklahoma- the windy state! The road returning to the lake area is very windy; in fact, I remember several times over the years becoming sick as a result of the numerous sharp curves. Just as we were coming around one of the curves, before the climb up the very last steep hill toward the cabin area, we noticed two young men dressed in black pants with long-sleeved white shirts and ties, riding their bikes along the narrow winding roadside. Mark commented that the hill they had obviously climbed earlier that day and had just descended, he had attempted years ago to run up, but due to the heat and the intense incline, he stopped and walked instead.
As we passed these two young missionaries, I admired the commitment to their cause that had driven them to withstand heat and incredible terrain in order to pass along their beliefs. Although I deeply disagree with their cultish practices and false doctrine, I admire their commitment, and I could not help wondering if I would ride a bike in 85 degree temperatures with 90% humidity in the middle of July, over rigorous terrain, to tell others of Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, who has forgiven my sins and made my life worth living. Honestly, I and many like me don’t even go next door to tell our neighbor about the One who died for us to set us free from the bondage of sin, and who promises us eternal life through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
These two young men were given this assignment as part of their training as disiciples of the Morman faith. As I understand it, they don’t choose to do this, but are required to do it as part of their training. As Christians, and believers, and followers of the only triune God, we are told in the Word of God, the infallible, living and active true Word of God, to go into all the world and share the gospel of Christ. So, why don’t we? Is it our unwillingness to sweat, work hard, ride a bike, live on little, wear long pants and a shirt and tie in the middle of the summer heat? When we boil it down, does it all come down to being inconvenienced? Does it all come down to an unwillingness to sacrifice and perhaps even suffer just a little for the cause of Christ?
These two young men were willing to suffer for their cause and it’s not even a just or worthy cause, because it is a false cause. We as Christians, have the truth and we know the One true God, so why are we not going? Why am I not going and telling, so that the world might be saved? In the Bible, the only true Word of God, we are given a mandate to go! Often when reading the word of God, we read it as if God is suggesting these things to us, saying, “if it is convenient, non-sacrificial, fits into your life and life-style, could you think about going into all the world and sharing My gospel, the only gospel that is true and worthy of men giving their lives for?”
Because God is the powerful God, creator of the entire universe, He never suggests anything to us, His children, but He commands! By those in authority over them, these two young men were commanded to go and tell because those over them thought it necessary to their cause and message worthy of these young men going. If a false doctrine and misguided belief is worthy of sending out thousands of young disciples and messengers, is not the TRUTH worth our going next door, across the highway, to the next town, the next state, and around the world? Is the TRUTH worthy of our sacrifice, our being inconvenienced? I believe it is that the whole world might know!
Father, help me to lay aside my desires, my comfort, my pride, and my self-centeredness, in order to obey your command to go into all the world and share the only true gospel according to the death and ascension of Your One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. May I be willing to go where You tell me to go, and trust You to give me what I need to share with others the story of forgiveness for their sins and the hope of eternity through the shed blood of Your Son. May others see in me the hope of Glory and the love of a Father who willingly gave His son that I and others might experience true living?
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
“The sum of Your word is truth, and everyone of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.” Psalm 119:160
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7v
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:46-48
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
dianne