I am often amazed by how effective the Coca-Cola company has been in distributing its product all over the world. I still find it incredible that when I travel all over the world—from deserts to jungles to some hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere—no matter where I go, I can always find a Coke! Have you ever experienced what I’m talking about? It’s pretty impressive! I often wonder; if Coke can engage the world, why can’t we as Christians, with the power of the Holy Spirit and the powerful motivation of the Great Commission engage the world?
The world we live in today is radically different from anything we have seen or experienced in recent history. Change has become normative, and even more so amidst the global pandemic, we’re experiencing at this moment. Sometimes when things change, we allow ourselves to be led by fear and not by faith, and let us be mindful that in this world of uncertainty, the only thing that we can depend on is the reality and goodness of God! Change is not the only constant; God is the ultimate constant force in a transient world and the Gospel is not dependent on professionals to proliferate, it’s in the hands of everyday followers of Jesus.
I often wonder if Coca-Cola can distribute product & engage all over the world, why can’t we as Christians, with the power of the Holy Spirit & the powerful motivation of the Great Commission engage the world? Click To Tweet
The reality is that centuries ago, the chief driver of global engagement was the church. Christians, because of God’s unique work in their lives, not only have human hearts that grieve over suffering but the Holy Spirit that lives within them, empowering them to fulfill what Christ has called them to do in the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. But world transformation isn’t just something for pastors and religious professionals to talk about as they inspire others to join a church or join a program. For the world to be transformed by Jesus it will take every one of us; every follower of Jesus Christ is gifted by God and called to impact the world, right where they are. It’s time for us to turn the world upside down much like the early disciples did!
The first disciples took the Great Commission, given to them by Jesus, and went to the farthest reaches of the known world. They traveled to the east and to the west, from Spain to India, and went to the north and to the south, from Britain to Africa. The generations between that first-century explosion and our own century have dreamed of fulfilling the Great Commission, but the actual achievement of that dream has been limited by tools and time.
Fulfilling the Great Commission is no longer simply a question of potential—the possibility of completion is real. Completion is now a matter of obedience and dependence on God’s Spirit. Click To TweetFulfilling the Great Commission is no longer simply a question of potential—the possibility of completion is real. Completion is now a matter of obedience and dependence on God’s Spirit. Though we have the potential to turn the world upside down (or better, right side up), much like those first disciples, we will first have to turn our own thinking around and take a fresh look at how they accomplished their task.
