Over 2.3 billion people have never heard the name of Jesus.
Each time I hear this statistic, my heart becomes deeply troubled.One-third of our world is destined for eternal separation from God.
God informs us through His word that Christ is the only way to life (John 14:6). When He gives us a glimpse into the Kingdom through John’s revelation, we see members of every nation, tribe, tongue, and language worshipping the Father (Revelation 7:9).
But every nation can only worship God if they know Him … and they can only know Him if someone takes them the gospel message.
"for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" - Romans 10:13-15
God’s Word and this staggering statistic leave me with a sense of urgency to share His saving grace with the lost.
Christ expressed this same urgency when He commissioned us to go and make disciples before taking His seat beside the Father.
Christ also expressed urgency in In Luke 9 and 10 as He declared Himself to the lost by commissioning the disciples and seventy other followers. Before they could pack a bag, say farewell to family, or dwell on what they were leaving behind, Jesus appointed and sent them to proclaim the Kingdom.
Christ conveys urgency for the spread of the gospel because in His death He experienced the graveness of eternal separation from the Father.
By conquering the grave, He made a way of escape for those who trust in Him. That’s the good news of the gospel!
That message breathes life into dry bones and must be declared among all people … so we continue to go to people groups hardened and untouched by the gospel to multiply followers of Christ.
As John Piper once said, “Missions is the back-breaking, culture-penetrating, darkness-shattering, initial work to penetrate darkness. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, and the alternative is hell. And millions and millions and millions of people are on their way there, and we have the only means of escape in our heads and in our hearts: Jesus Christ.”
On these battlegrounds of darkness, Light cannot be stifled. We must boldly proclaim the story of Christ’s redeeming love to those who have not heard. God desires to use us—His people—to build His Kingdom in every place … and He is on the move to see lives change in response to His glory our obedience.
As the message of God’s redeeming love spreads throughout the world’s darkest crevices, people are responding to the gospel.
Each hour 7,250 people turn to Christ. Each day 174,000 people accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
Now is the time to beat with God’s heart for all people.
It’s evident that the harvest is plenty. There’s a huge opportunity for the gospel to ignite hope in the hopeless that have never heard of Jesus!
Carl Henry said, “The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”
The only question that remains is whether we will leave behind our comfort to become co-laborers in God’s work across the world. What will you do today to get the gospel to those who have yet to hear it?
