July 24, 2023
“for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
-Hebrews 9:26
A couple of weeks ago, I arrived at work to a phone filled with messages from friends and family, asking if I was okay. I knew, just from the number of messages waiting for me that there had to have been a motorcycle accident somewhere. Sadly, two motorcyclists were involved in an accident on a foggy Monday morning and one of the men did not survive. Any loss is hard and the sheer number of messages just let me know just how many people care about me and are concerned for me when they hear of an accident in the area. Now, I didn’t know the man who lost his life in this tragic accident, but I know he probably had friends and family texting him just the same as I did, but their messages went unanswered. So, unknowingly, this motorcyclist spoke his last words to someone in his life. Did he tell his wife or girlfriend that he loved her and that he would be home soon? Did he call up a friend and make plans for the evening? Whatever the case might be, someone remembers the last words that were spoken to them by this man and they won’t soon forget them.
I have no doubt that each of us has been a witness to a dramatic conversation, whether it is in a book we are reading, a movie we are watching, or perhaps we have experienced them in real-life.
You know, one of those conversations that occur when two people know they won’t see each other for a long time, if ever again. Heartfelt and important words are usually exchanged in these moments.
In 1991, Michael Landon, of Little House of the Prairie fame, was battling cancer. His son told him it was time to move on and he simply replied “You’re right, it’s time. I love you all.”
Just before his death, in 1972, John Wayne looked at his wife and said “of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
Todd Beamer, a passenger on United flight 93, after terrorists had overtaken the plane, called his family to tell them that he loved them, these were the words he wanted to say, but after he said his goodbyes to his family, he was overheard saying “are you guys ready? Let’s roll.”
While not the true last words spoken by Christ, there are some words that were spoken to His disciples that were so vitally important and they were among some of the last words He would ever utter.
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
-Matthew 28:18-20
These words include a very direct and uncomplicated command. Jesus said to “Go.” He didn’t say do it when the mood hits or when it is convenient to do so.
He very simply and very directly said “Go.” This is one of the first problems we encounter when we are presented with an opportunity to share the Gospel with others, we don’t feel ready in the moment, we feel that the time isn’t right.
We are to be prepared, ready, and willing to share the Gospel and to answer questions. So how do we do that? How do we prepare ourselves for these moments? It’s rather simple and it’s one of the things that many Christians struggle with the most in their spiritual disciplines…if you’re taking notes, write this down, it will change your life, are you ready? READ YOUR BIBLE!
Our world is our mission field, our schools, our jobs, our neighborhoods, our own families, the stranger on the street…I could keep going but the point is this, everywhere we are, that is our mission field.
We can share Christ anytime, anywhere.
The good news is that evangelism is not complicated! Share what God has done for you, share your testimony, don’t wait until you think you know everything because I can promise that you will never reach that point. Start today, don’t wait.
Loving the lost is not only a spiritual virtue, it also makes very sound practical sense. Where love is not felt, the message is not likely to be heard.
As a teacher I have learned one undeniable truth, people rarely care what you know until they know you care. When my students are aware of how much I care about them, I find that I have an easier time conveying important information to them. They enjoy what they are learning, which says a lot because I’m teaching them math…and they hate math! If this is true in my own classroom why shouldn’t this be true of our own gospel conversations?
Do let the moment pass you by. Share Christ every chance you get, because you don’t know when your last words will be uttered to someone in your life. In December of 2020, around Christmas, I told my 17 year old nephew something along the lines of “see you later knucklehead.” Had I known that just three weeks later he would take his own life, I like to think I would have shared Christ with him instead of something so insignificant as what I actually did say to him.
Don’t let fear stand in your way, let your love guide you and share with someone the most important and life changing truth that they will ever hear. What if the last words you ever speak to that person is about the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
