Where In The Bible Will I Find:

The Task Of Carrying The Gospel To The World?

Jesus said to His apostles, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). They did and the Word of God was heard by everyone. Today, the reply of numerous Christians is that the task is too great, the world is too big, and we are too few. Let us realize, first of all, that one congregation is not expected by the Lord to do it all. This does not excuse any group of brethren from doing their part. There are many small congregations seeking to survive and evangelize their communities and worship God. A very small amount of support from some larger congregation would be a tremendous help.

There are faithful preachers of the Gospel who are willing and ready to go into the mission areas of the world to preach Christ, but they lack the fund to get to the field and remain long enough to do the job. Several congregations supporting such men would make a world of difference. To sit back and do nothing is an indication of our lack of faith. To feel that since we can't do it all, we shall do nothing is a mistake of great magnitude. Surely God would have us all to do what we can.

The Hebrews thought the task was too overwhelming and fearsome to go in and take the promised land. Even though God had shown them that He would be with them, they thought the task was too great, but with God, the task was accomplished. We serve the same eternal, everlasting God. Is this task too great for God? Can we believe the task is too great for God's people? Twelve men were given the responsibility, with the help of the Lord, to take the Gospel to the world in the first century, they went to work, and they got it done. The task was monumental, but not too great, because God was with them.

Today, the world is larger, the population is increasing, and the need for the saving Gospel is still the same. People in sin hunger for the truth. Those of us in the Lord's church who have been fortunate enough to hear and obey the Gospel must feel an obligation to share our knowledge of the faith with others. We, of the body of Christ, can find suitable literature and give it, or mail it to others.

Radio is still a powerful voice; we can help support a Gospel program on the radio. An open Bible with a friend or neighbor will have a tremendous influence and will affect many lives. We should use every available means and opportunity to get the Gospel - "the power of God unto salvation " (Rom. 1:16), to every person who is willing to hear it. Is the task too great? Not if we serve the great and powerful God who has promised, "I will never fail thee nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5), and, too, He has said, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto, I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). We must keep trying.

--Charles E. Cobb