Every child of God has been commissioned to be a part of a concerted effort to bring the good news of the Gospel to every creature. Once this good news is heard and received, the recipient of God's free gift of salvation must be discipled so that he, too, is involved with God's program for every Christian - intense cultivation and abounding fruitfulness.

There is no way to escape the responsibility of being a bearer of these glad tidings. In order for this message to go into all the world to every creature, the full mobilization of God's army is required. The tragedy of the Christian Church today is that the vast majority of Bible believing Christians are too concerned with amassing treasures on earth and padding their bank accounts that they have never taken God's commission seriously. Yet He still speaks as He spoke in days of yore - "you are ambassadors for Christ." A more blessed and frightening commission could not be devised. It is a commission that is largely ignored by the Christian population as a whole.

The average fundamental Christian is very much anchored to this world. This fact is apparent when we consider the huge importance given to accumulate worldly treasures and enjoying earthly pleasures. A paranoic fear of death that most Christians have makes a lie of Paul's assertion that to be with Christ is far better. To hear the average Christian talk, a notable answer to prayer is a deliverance that keeps them marooned on earth for many more years, to lay up more treasures and partake of all the world has to offer.

The dearth of evangelistic desire is only matched by the penury of our missionary giving. It is heart-breaking to compare financial outlays on things to make us comfortable and even things to make our pets comfortable with that which we invest in God's program of world missions. Do we really believe that we are the ones whom He has sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel?

The bottom line can only be that most of us do not really believe we are His representatives; we do not concur with His sentiments that it is better to lose on earth for heavenly gain, and we are so attached to the world that we cannot bear to have the slightest inconvenience in lives that are supposed to be poured out at the Master's feet. Casting crowns at His feet in Heaven is a beautiful thought, but what crowns will be given those who were more interested in living for themselves than in giving themselves to Him?

"When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ, and He shows me His plan for me;

The plan of my life as it might have been had He had His way, and I see

How I blocked Him here and I checked Him there and I would not yield my will;

Will there be grief in my Saviour's eyes; grief, tho' He loves me still?

He would have me rich and I stand there poor; stripped of all but His Grace;

While memory runs like a haunted thing down paths I cannot retrace.

And my desolate heart will well nigh break with tears that I cannot shed;

I will cover my face with my empty hands, I will bow my uncrowned head..."

The average American Christian is living a life so over-scheduled by a few necessary things, some good things and a multitude of trivia that if we were ever called upon by God to witness in a specific instance, we would look at our calendars and tell God we can fit it in a week from next Tuesday (if Aunt Sally doesn't phone and chat for an hour). We must learn to be available - always ready to shelve our plans (not our promises) for His plans, and realize that the things He would call us to are of far greater consequence than the idle things that so easily dominate our thinking and time.

Perhaps one reason for our lack of involvement in God's great program of evangelism is that we feel we lack the ability. This can either be a genuine obstacle because we do not feel as talented or able as others, or it can be a cop-out to make us think that because we find it difficult to do certain things, God is going to excuse us.

We can remedy this situation by believing a very simple promise - "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Php. 4:13). This simply means that He has taken the responsibility of enabling you to do that which He has bidden. God will give you many things you cannot do in your own strength; if you could, they wouldn't be worth much. However, God assures us that He will enable us to do all that He wants us to do - the obedience is our responsibility; the enablement is His!

We can evangelize. We must evangelize.

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