The Time Has Come

Our Lord Jesus taught His Apostles in Luke 24:46-47 (NASB), “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

We are familiar with the prophetic nature of the first part about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but notice in part two that the Mission of the Church was also written in the Law of Moses, Prophets and Psalms.  There was no missional requirement nor missional practice for the people of God under the Old Covenant.  However, the Mission would become a significant part of church life under the New Covenant.

One of the reasons Luke recorded these words of Jesus was so that every church might see its mission efforts and successes as actually fulfilling prophecy!  Since “it is written,” then it must be fulfilled--this makes it all the more exciting to go, to send, to give and to pray!  

Likewise, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:20-21 (ESV), “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written [Isaiah 52:15], ‘Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.’”

His well-defined practice of establishing new churches among new people groups and in strategic locations was motivated by understanding Isaiah 52:15.  It was not simply his preference, personality or ego, rather it was in accordance with God's design and command to reveal His salvation to the world.  He knew the time had come in the history of redemption for the Mission!

We do live in perhaps the most thrilling of times, when we can see for ourselves that the Gospel is actually reaching the very ends of the earth and God is calling out for Himself a people to worship Him forever.  Since the time has come, may we confidently take great risks for His glory among all peoples and their full enjoyment of Him!