This short phrase from a colleague pierced my heart recently. Things in the world are changing so rapidly. Almost daily we hear news that indicate the world is coming to an end. Our hearts ache as evil increases. There is no doubt the devil is working aggressively to take people away from the knowledge of God. Is it time then for the children of God to go slow? My answer is emphatic “No!”
Our Lord Jesus didn’t go slow. “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” was his conviction and practice. I believe God gives priority to urgency, wisdom, and eternity. He wants us to live and serve with a sense of urgency to proclaim Jesus, with a heart of wisdom making the best use of every opportunity, and with a mind focused on eternity.
God says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor. 2:2). Now is the acceptable time? Now is the day of salvation? If now is the acceptable time, time of God’s favor, then we must make the best use of it. If now is the day of salvation, God is at work all over the world, then we must preach the good news with all our heart and strength.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, then the end will come.” (Mt 24:14). Jesus did not say “may be” preached or “could be” preached but it “will be preached.” That’s why God is uniting His Body.
This is the acceptable time, and we can not go slow. Let’s focus on our common goal of completing the Great Commission by being a catalyst for planting five million additional churches and faith communities — one healthy, missional and multiplying church or faith community for every 1,000 people on planet earth.
Let’s completely surrender ourselves to primarily live for God’s kingdom and for the salvation of millions of precious people. Let’s work in partnership with one another so that we will be able to maximize our resources for the glory of God. We can not go slow.