To The Ends Of The Earth

Earlier today I was at a pastors conference. We had the privilege to listen to Diane Brask. She was sharing her journey of how God molded her into a missionary. She told us about her very first mission trip. They were in a remote village that had never heard of the name of Jesus. They showed the Jesus film. After the film the tribe wept and repented and excepted Jesus' sacrifice. Later that evening, the leader of the village came to her and started to ask her more questions. She told us that he wanted to know how long ago Jesus walked on the earth and was crucified. She told him it was a long time ago. He was not satisfied with her answer. He asked if she knew how long ago it was. She told him that it had been around 2,000 years. The old man looked at her and asked, "Why has it taken so long for someone to tell us about Him?"

Amid the silence of the room full of pastors you could begin to hear crying as the weight of the question hit us. This question has hunted me all day. I can not shake it. It has driven me to prayer and I want to share with you what the Lord has begun to share with me.

In Matthew 28:19-20 we read the Great Commission. In it Jesus charges us, the Body of Christ, to go into all the World and do two things; 1. share the gospel and lead others to Him 2. disciple them and help grow and mature in their faith. Yet, 2000 years later, half the the world's population still has yet to hear the name of Jesus.

Acts 13:47 says:

For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
I have made you
a light for the Gentiles
to bring salvation
to the ends of the earth.

God's heart is hungry for those at the ends of the earth. Deuteronomy 30:4 says, "Even if your exiles are at the ends of the earth, He will gather you and bring you back from there." Even David sang in the Psalms of God's reign over all people, even to the ends of the earth. "May he rule from sea to sea and from the Uphrates to the ends of the earth.", Psalm 72:8.

Where is the ends of the earth anyways? What first comes to my mind is a small village in the darkest jungle of the Amazon or a remote tribe in uncharted territories of Africa. However, as I meditated on the man's question, I feel the "ends of the earth" is much closer than you might think. "The ends of the earth" is anywhere, and more importantly anyone that has not been told the truth about Jesus. This means that co-worker that always keeps to themselves, or your neighbors and family. How about the rural communities of  America? How many have no remnants of God's people, yet they have five bars? (and I'm not talking about their cell phone reception)

God promised us "the ends of the earth" as an inheritance! All we have to do is ask. Psalm 2:8 He tells us:

Ask of Me,
and I will make the nations Your inheritance
and the ends of the earth Your possession.

Father, give us the nations. Even unto the ends of the earth. Birth in the hearts of your people a burning hunger for those that have not heard the truth about your son Jesus. Empower us with your Holy Spirit to go into all the World with boldness. May you give us creative and innovative ideas to reach the unreachable. Lord thank you that where there is no way, with You there is a way. Activate your people. Call the labors to the vineyard for the harvest is ready. May we be also. Thank you Jesus for loving us and restoring our lives. May your Kingdom continue to expand until every eye has seen your Glory and every ear has heard your Truth and every mouth has confessed that you are Lord. Amen.

Posted in: Discipleship, Kingdom Expansion, Mission