Christians: What Are You Sharing

Today, on most social media, there are posts about end times. It seems many are consumed with the expectation of the end times. Those expectations differ over denominations and the many books written about end times. There are movies about being "Left Behind." Yet, are we more consumed about being knowledgeable about end times than obeying God? What good is it if we are sharing what we imagine will happen instead of sharing salvation?

Before Jesus' resurrection, he gave the following command to his followers in Matthew 28:19:

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.

In order to make disciples, we have to understand what makes a disciple. God loves all his creation and desires for all to choose him. It is not forced. It is our choice. Some come to God at a very young age while others come later in life. It doesn't matter. We simply have to believe. 

If you go to a Bible app and search "do you believe," you will find Jesus asked that question often. My favorite was when he asked Martha in John 11. Martha's brother had died. Jesus did not come until after Lazarus was buried. The family and friends were mourning Lazarus' death. When they heard Jesus was coming, Martha rushed to meet him and let him know it was too late. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11: 25,26) Martha believed. As Martha believed Jesus was the Son of God, we also need to believe. 

Believing in God is the beginning of our journey of faith. We seek God. We study the scriptures. We pray and live out our faith by following God's commandments. In Psalms 111:10, David wrote: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who follow God's commandments have a good understanding; His praise endures forever." Then, as a Pharisee scholar came to Jesus in John 3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (16,17) Believing is only the beginning.

As believers, we are called to obey God's commandments and to serve. Paul explained to the church in Ephesus, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 8-10) We are to not only obey the commandments we read in the Bible, but we are to share God's love through our good works. Show love to all, not just the ones who are easy to love. Help the less fortunate. Avoid pride and be meek, kind, and loving in our actions. Along our journey, we are to be witnesses by sharing the gospel.

Now, what are you sharing? We are to share meekness over pride. We are to share love over bitterness. We are to share encouragement lifting up others over self. We are to share the way to salvation. 

Yet, we have our human nature. We want to know when. We want to think we can understand it all. Even, Jesus' followers were just like us. In Acts 1:6, Jesus' followers asked him before he was taken up into the clouds, "Will God at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel?" Isn't this what many are consumed with today, End Times? Now, consider Jesus' answer to their question about Israel being restored in verses 7 and 8:

"It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father has put in His own Power. But, you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Jesus' disciples preached the gospel of salvation in Jerusalem and many believed. Then, many left Jerusalem and witnessed in their home towns while a few became the first missionaries starting the first churches from Israel to Galatia, Ephesus, Corinth, and along the way to Rome. The gospel of God continued over the centuries to many more nations. Yet, the job is not finished. It will not be finished until every tribe has heard the gospel of salvation. 

Considering God's command to share the gospel of salvation, what are you sharing? What consumes your thoughts? Do you dwell more on 'the times and the seasons' or sharing the gospel with your neighbors, friends, and 'uttermost parts of the earth?' 

Now, consider yourself. What are you sharing?