"To the ends of the earth…"

12/22/2005

“The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. You are to take his message everywhere, telling the whole world what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14-15 NLT)

In the book of Acts, there is story after story of the adventures of Paul and Barnabas and Peter, and many others, as they travel from place to place sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. In Chapter one it says, “…when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“To the ends of the earth…” How could these first disciples imagine then the world we live in now? That there would be people traveling the world by plane, reaching every part of the earth? It must have seemed an impossibility to them then, but now it’s commonplace. What may not be so commonplace today is the power of the Holy Spirit that they knew so well then. They were actually in that upper room on the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, and they suddenly heard a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and then they saw what looked like flames or tongues of fire appear and settle on each of them as they were filled with the Holy Spirit…that’s just not an everyday occurrence! (Acts 2:1-4) Most times, unless I am mistaken, the filling of the Holy Spirit is not so visual as it is internal. Receiving the Holy Spirit’s power comes with a choice we make when we commit ourselves fully to the truth of God’s Word—then there is no limit to what God will do through that person.

Why are there so few today with such passion, with such drive and abandonment to our Lord? Why are we more apt to go through each day burdened with all the things we must get accomplished than we are to go through each day filled with amazement at all that God is doing in our lives? Saul was also missing out on all the good things the Lord had for him. He was stuck in all the old ways. He didn’t understand Who Jesus Christ is and what He could do in His life--and later in his death. Saul, now known as Paul, saw the Light, literally, on the road to Damascus one day. After that experience, Saul went from the greatest threat to those who followed Jesus Christ, to one of the greatest leaders and encouragers to believers everywhere!

Speaking out about the good things of God is not an easy calling. When called, we cannot go just half way…if we do, we will have jumped into the water but missed the boat. We will be swimming as hard as our little arms will carry us, but without getting into the boat and letting God lead and direct every single part of the journey, it will be more than any of us can bear. Paul met up with opposition everywhere he went, and especially from his own people the Jews. But he never quit because it was not about how well he was received, how much he was liked or even respected by those he talked to along the way, it was about what he knew in his heart beyond a shadow of a doubt. He knew Jesus Christ is Lord, and he would preach about His Good News until his dying day to anyone who would listen. Anything less than pure passion for our Lord will leave the world wondering if it’s really such Good News after all…