Jesus initiated the greatest rescue mission in the history of mankind when He came to earth to live as one of us and to die in our place. (Colossians 1:13; John 1:14; Romans 5:8) His resurrection from the grave began the next phase of the operation in which He chose each of us to be the rescue workers sent to help liberate a suffering world from catastrophe. (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
It is our mission to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. (James 5:20; Jude 1:23) How diligent are we in pursuing that mission? Does it consume us with an urgency that we can’t hold back? Would we be happy if rescue workers had the same urgency in an earthbound crisis? We must understand our time on earth is not to be squandered on frivolous and selfish pursuits but to be spent telling as many people as possible about Jesus. (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5)
Talking to someone about Jesus might feel uncomfortable, but I’m happy to exchange a few moments of discomfort or even ridicule for playing a part in rescuing someone from an eternity of anguish in Hell. Few of us engage in this rescue mission with the appropriate measure of understanding, soberness, and urgency. Every conversation with someone is an opportunity to help them see their need for salvation through Christ. It’s also an opportunity for us to remain silent and forfeit perhaps the only chance that person will ever have to hear the gospel.
Imagine being trapped in the rubble of an earthquake. You can see the rescue workers walking around and are desperate for them to come to your aid. Now imagine you see them uninterested in your plight and engaging in their own selfish pursuits. They sit around relaxing, go shopping, stuff their faces with food, and seem unconcerned with the needs around them. It’s a preposterous thought, but one we live out every day of our lives.
We’re on a rescue mission, but we treat it more like a sightseeing tour. How much time do we spend sharing the gospel in proportion to tending to our needs, comforts, and safety? What is it that consumes our thoughts throughout the day? I’ll go out on a limb and speak from experience in saying we think about our interests far more than we think about rescuing our family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers from an eternity in Hell. Jesus said to go into all the world sharing His gospel. (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) He never said to shelter in place, riding out this life until He returns. (Matthew 5:14-16)
If you choose Christ, you choose to be part of His rescue mission on earth. You can’t love Jesus and be indifferent to His mission. He said the greatest commandment was to love Him with everything you’ve got, and the second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39) If we love Jesus, we will obey Him. (John 14:15) That means we must love our neighbors. There’s nothing more loving than telling them about Jesus and presenting them with the only way to eternal life. We must show them life as it was meant to be. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) Participation in the mission is not optional. Let’s get to work.