In The Wake Up Call, JD Walt shared that he had a friend named Ricky, who was “straight out of the Old Testament—a spitfire prophet type.” One day, Ricky walked up to a lost and broken friend’s door and greeted him saying, “Bobby, if I was driving by and your house was on fire, would you want me to stop and tell you?”
The friend said, “Of course, I would!”
Ricky then said, “Well, Bobby, your house is on fire!” It was Ricky’s way of telling his friend that he urgently needed Christ.
Am I keenly aware of the reality that my neighbors, family, and friends are lost and in eternal danger? Do I see this as an emergency? Do my actions reflect this?
These are good questions to ask ourselves on a regular basis, because the routines of daily life can numb us to the urgency of people’s spiritual condition.
Jesus clearly taught about the eternal danger faced by those who do not follow him. Do we really believe him when he warns that those who do not yield to him will go “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 13:42) It is uncomfortable to think about, but let’s allow that discomfort spur us to action.
Right now, there are Global Methodist Church pastors ministering in regions of the world where it is illegal to follow Christ. Several have been hauled before authorities and threatened with death if they share the gospel. And yet, they still do it, and the house churches continue to multiply at a rapid rate.
What causes those believers to risk everything to share Jesus? They understand the mission of Jesus and the eternal stakes involved.
Multiplying disciples and churches is not a mere denominational church growth strategy. It is a response to the emergency presented by millions of people who are apart from Christ. They are in danger, and the Gospel of Jesus is their only salvation. And we have the privilege of making it available to them.
If it has been a while since you’ve sensed the urgency of reaching lost people, ask God to let you see the world around you through his eyes. Ask him to replace any apathy with a fire for reaching others that will result in steps of faith.
