Why Don't We, Why Won't We?

Do you know what it’s like to travel outside the comfort zone of your own city, state or even country? Most of the time when we think about going to a different country, various tourist attractions are what come to mind, but when I think about going to other countries missions and ministry is the first thought that enters my mind.

This is a topic that many churches will bring up if you go visit one, yet sometimes it seems like talking is all that is done. We, as Christians, are discussing the idea constantly, but why aren’t we doing it? We see different countries all around the world that are hurting, yet we do nothing about it even though we have the ultimate answer within us, salvation through Jesus Christ.

Missions, simply put, is sharing the Gospel of Christ and his everlasting love with those who have never heard. The most unreached people groups in the world live in the 10/40 window. These are countries all over Asia, Africa and Europe where more than roughly 3 billion people have never heard the Gospel while also living in the most impoverished areas.

If God calls us to reach people, and there are over 3 billion people in just this one area, that have never heard, then why are we still doing nothing? Making disciples of all nations is exactly what God has called us to do in his Word.

Rob Bell says this quote in his book Velvet Elvis,, “Missions then is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there.”

We can think so many times that it’s up to us to share Christ and, ultimately, save those who do not know. Even though, in actuality, He’s already been there from the very beginning. He just wants to use us to help show his lost people that He really is there waiting on them to turn to him.

So if God is already present in these places, then why aren’t we joining Him? I mean, after all, He’s already done the hard part; he’s sacrificed Himself to die on the cross for each of us, so isn’t it the least we can do to go tell others of his everlasting love?

I’m not saying that every Christian must commit their entire life to missions in the 10/40 window, but I am trying to communicate that God has called his people to his Great Commission and not one of us is exempt from that. There are people all over the world, as well as, right next door that are hurting and in need of Jesus Christ.

I was listening to a song that was talking about various situations that people are going through and how they are desperate for Christ to be with them through their circumstances. The song is called "help to the Hurting" by Tanner Blankenship.

There are a few phrases in the chorus that says, “I wanna be help to the hurting…a hand that takes the broken soul and helps it mend again…I wanna be you and spread your love.”

Those lyrics are so powerful because that’s exactly what we should be. We should spread God’s love by being Christ-like in all we do and say.

Another book that I have been reading is Bill Hybel’s, Holy Discontent. The main theme in this book is that God has a specific life plan for each one of us (Jeremiah 29:11). He has a unique way he wants to use each of his children to complete his Kingdom purpose.

Paul states in Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”

As Christ followers, God has a higher calling for us and part of that includes the unique way he wants to use each of us to reach every soul in order to complete his Kingdom purpose.

Even if our life’s calling isn’t cross cultural missions, God still wants to use each of us to reach the people right here in our everyday lives. Even if you never go to a distant land, God can still use your prayers for the lost people around the world. Prayer is so powerful because the God who hears our prayers can fulfill every miracle and need that we are asking for in his name; there is nothing too big for the Lord God Almighty!

This world is hurting and desperate, and the only Savior there is to all of this is Jesus Christ. He calls each of us to share his love and salvation with all others for how else will they ever know if they are not told and if we do not go? (Romans 10:14)

We should be asking God to break our hearts for the things that break his own. Then we will see others around us the way he does. If we do that and fully follow after the higher calling God has put on our lives, then how could we not live our lives trying to reach the world for his holy kingdom?