We are going to look at Mark 16: 15-18, and Luke 24: 46-49. The scriptures comprising the Great Commission.
Mark 16
15) And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
16) He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believes not shall be damned.
17) And these signs shall follow them who believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Luke 24
46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.
47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48) And you are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
And He said unto them, Go … and preach.
West Virginia had the highest opioid overdose rate in the entire United States, in 2021. There were 1,607 overdoses, or roughly 90 per 100k residents. If NARCAN, or naloxone, is administered quickly enough the user can usually be saved – that time. NARCAN is not a permanent solution.
What if there was one? What if there was a pill that could be taken that would always save the person when they messed up?
You cannot administer it. You can only tell the users about it.
The unbeliever, or unrepentant, is like the opioid user. This life is their opioid. Many of the things life offers that feels good to this body, the flesh, can lead to everlasting death for our souls; eternal separation from the Lord.
In His sermon on the plain (mount), as recorded by Luke, Christ shares a few things that can keep us apart from Him. Known as the four woes, they contrast the “beatitudes.” Can you guess what they are? Divorce? Shopping on Sunday? Cutting your hair? Smoking?
Christ says, “Woe unto” you who are rich for you have received your consolation. Woe unto you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe unto you who laugh now! For you shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Does this mean all rich, well fed, happy, or popular people will spend eternity in eternal damnation? No. Like the prodigal son who took his inheritance to the city, many who have money, looks, and “it all” take their eyes off Jesus, become full of themselves, feel they do not need anyone else, much less Jesus.
How many of us remember Jack Whittaker? The West Virginia businessman at one time had won more money in one Powerball lottery than any other person. $314.9 million in 2002. He was living the life. He was rich, he was full, he was happy, and he was popular.
In less than a year, thieves stole $545,000 from him while he was at a strip club in Cross Lanes. His granddaughter died after drug use in 2004. He was arrested for DUI in 2005, he bounced $1.5 million in checks in 2006 at Caesars Atlantic City. Was robbed, and sued multiple times. His daughter died in 2009 under suspicious circumstances. He lost his home in Bland County, Virginia to a fire. All of this within 14 years. He passed away in June 2020.
While they may feel good many don’t notice the deterioration in their lives. They are having a GREAT time, and will tell you so. In fact, they may be having such a great time they tell you loudly with swear words.
But it always takes a little more to reach that same high they used to feel. A little more drugs, a little more alcohol, a little more pornography, a little more hate, a little more violence to fill an emptiness they can’t define. Eventually, they hit bottom. Unlike the prodigal son, however, not everyone goes home to the Father.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Romans 10:17]
Recall the great, old hymn I Love To Tell The Story!
I love to tell the story;
Tis pleasant to repeat
What seem each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story;
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God’s own holy word
Even with the pre-recorded music on the CDs our church has, that song fills me with the Holy Sprit! It’s pleasant to repeat!
I love to tell the story, for some have NEVER HEARD! The message of salvation. That’s my job. That’s YOUR job. We must share with the non-believer, then it is their choice. We cannot sit back and believe we have no more to do. Our salvation may be assured, but we want all to be saved. We may never know if they accept Christ, but we must tell them.
One of my best friends, Sheree, struggled many years with multiple sclerosis. Just before she died, she called me to say she was in the hospital. The night she passed away I visited with her for about an hour. Her son, and his friends came in for a few minutes. They were loud, and I could tell she was uncomfortable with the noise. I told him that they were getting a little loud and the nurse was liable to stop in and get after them. He told his mom goodnight and he would come back in the morning.
Sheree said she was tired. I told her I would leave so she could rest but she asked me to stay a while. I pulled my New Testament from my purse and read to her. I may never know if she heard me, but as I finished reading the story of Blind Bartimaeus, I said a prayer that Sheree would hear me, understand, and repent, and the Lord welcome her home. I could not leave there without at least setting up the opportunity for her to repent and accept the Lord. Or, return to the Lord as it was.
Are you sitting back not knowing how to share the Gospel? Do you believe it is not important?
How will you feel when you stand before Him and account for failure to share the gospel with others? You are not responsible for the souls of those who hear yet refuse. What if, however, your witness leads them to Him? What if not witnessing to someone is the missing piece in their road to salvation?
In Colossians 3:14, Paul tells us that “Above all… put on charity [love] which is the bond of perfectness.” When we put on love we desire to see our fellow men saved. We want them to know the Lord, to experience His salvation, and to share eternity in His presence.
We are charged with informing the unbeliever, and unrepentant, on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the requirements for salvation, and the serious penalty ignoring or refusing to accept Him will bring. Christ does not wish that any should perish. That is why He came. And He tasked us with spreading His gospel to the entirety of the earth.
This is the Great Commission – Go and Preach. It is not an option for believers, it is a command. Whether they choose to accept or decline is up to them. Our job is to Go and Preach.
All glorious God we give you thanks, in your Son Jesus Christ you have given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms;
You chose us before the world was made o be your holy people, without fault in your sight. You adopted us as your children in Christ. You have set us free by His blood, you have forgiven our sin.
You have made know to us your purpose to bring heaven and earth into unity in Christ. You have given us your Holy Spirit, the seal and pledge of our inheritance. Help us to find the courage to share your Gospel. Help us discover our unique gifts that will allow us to reach those who are lost, and hurting, and may be in denial of their need for you.
All praise and glory be yours, O God, for the richness of your grace, for the splendor of your gifts, for the wonder of your love.
Amen. And Amen.