A Sense of Urgency

Feel a sense of urgency when it comes to evangelism.

As we approach the start of the 19th Annual Madisonville Church of Christ Bible Lectureship, I find myself thinking more and more about the theme of this year’s program – Evangelism: Our Mission and Passion. Do Christians really understand that the evangelism of lost souls is the mission upon which the Lord has sent us in this world? In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with your always, even unto the end of the world.” In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” In Luke 24:46-47, Jesus said, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” Do we really take the great commission personally? Do we understand that it is OUR task to evangelize the whole world? Do we realize that, if we fail to do it, there is no one else who will? If we did, then perhaps we would feel more of a sense of urgency, when it comes to evangelism.

Are we truly passionate about evangelism? Every Christian wants the church to grow, but few seem to want to do anything about it (Matthew 9:37). There seems to be no sense of urgency. The only way that the church will grow is if the members of it will actively attempt to recruit others to join the cause of Christ. Please don’t imagine that the preacher and his family are the only ones who are supposed to play and active role in the evangelism of our community. A preacher’s influence is limited to those around him. You will encounter people in the course of your daily life that your preacher might never even meet! Who is going to speak to them about Jesus, if you do not?

Those of us who have had some success in seeking and saving the lost know that there is no other feeling on Earth to compare with knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s eternal destiny. Being passionate about evangelism is not something that one can just “switch on” and “switch off.” It is something that comes with experience of seeking the lost. How many people have you led to Christ? There is still time to increase that number!

Next weekend, we will be in the midst of our Bible lectureship. We all need to hear the lectures that will be presented, and so do our friends and neighbors, who are lost in their sins. I want to challenge you to think of ten people you know, who are not Christians, whom you can invite to come to the lectureship. It doesn’t matter if you send them an invitation in the mail, or post an invitation on their Facebook page, or call them up on the telephone and invite them, or invite them in a text message, or even invite them in person. Just invite them to “come and see” what the Lord’s church has to offer. If even just one soul says “Yes” and comes to the lectureship, you will have done something wonderful for them and for yourself.

Evangelism is our mission, and it certainly ought to be our passion and be undertaken with a sense of urgency. My sincere hope and fervent prayer is that, by the end of the next weekend, all of us shall renew our commitment to tell everyone we know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take as many souls with us to Heaven as we possibly can.

To God, be the glory!