Paul Harvey the great radio and television commentator once said to his audience, and to Christians throughout the United States: “We’ve strayed from being Fishers of Men to being keepers of the aquarium.” Unfortunately, his statement is even truer today than it was when he spoke it many years ago. In light of this, it is truly time for Christians and Christian churches in the USA to make some big changes before it is too late.
Did you know that on average churches in the USA spend 85% of all donations, on salaries, building expenses, and supplies? That is a very sad reality and one that doesn’t seem to bother many believers; which makes this statistic even more disheartening. We must all ask ourselves, “Is this what Jesus meant for us to do when He commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Most of the world lives outside of the United States. Only about 5% of the population of the world lives in the USA. Did you know that approximately 2.9 billion people who live outside of the USA have never even heard about Jesus for the first time? Most of those people live in the 10/40 window. As a matter of fact, 85% of all unreached people groups live in the 10/40 Window.
The question is, what are you and I going to do to help initiate some changes. It has to start with us! We can’t just wait hoping someone else will step forward and make the necessary changes. We must do something now! Yes, we have to start today and we have to put many other things on hold so that we can do the most important thing. The most important thing is working toward the fulfillment of God’s Great Commission to Go into All the World!! John Piper said we must “Go, Send or Disobey!”
Don’t wait for someone else to lead the way.
Don’t wait for the building program at your church to be completed.
Don’t wait until your car or house is paid off.
Don’t wait until your pastor gets a world vision.
I hate to say it, but that may never happen! Are we supposed to let people die in their sins in parts of the world, without ever warning them by sending them the gospel? Of course not! God’s commission always trumps a man or woman’s vision that does not line up with God’s. Read the Word not your church's vision statement, unless it lines up with God’s.
There is no time to waste. Do something now! Do you know of a missionary working in the 10/40 window? Step forward and offer to help. If you don’t know of anyone, write to me and I will get you connected with people that are living and dying to complete God’s Great Commission in that part of the world.
Do it now or the cares of this life will come and distract you once again. By God’s grace, power and authority we must Go forward saying “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 We can and we must!
In His service, Brian Weller