The Greatest Enterprise

04.14.09

J.A. Matteson

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…." Titus 2:11

The incarnation of the Son of God is the quintessential display of grace, for that which is known of God finds its expression in the divine initiative; recipients of grace are illumined to His Person and majesty, being conscripted to a global enterprise with eternal consequences. Imagine them now in darkness, helpless, hopeless, blind, deaf, despairing, pierced through with many sorrows, not knowing their right hand from their left, always learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth, thinking themselves wise but being detestable in every deed, idolaters, insolent, with eyes full of envy and lust, desiring and never being satisfied, blissfully ignorant of their spiritual condition and of the deep pit over which they dangle by a thread, whose demise in hell surely awaits them, lest they repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And such were all of you. Can you picture them, for they are your neighbors, family, friends, associates, co-workers, partners, those far and near. To be called by Christ is to be on mission with Christ, to co-labor with Him in His redemptive mission of mercy. The missionary call to pilgrims is inclusive, it excludes none. Recipients of grace become channels of grace whereby the Gospel of Jesus Christ is transmitted to the sons of men that they might be saved, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).

The sacred trust of the Gospel requires its recipient to enter into the work of the Savior, to engage and dialogue, defend and propose, to juxtapose and refute, plead and warn. Response to the Gospel is none of your business; your obligation to your Master is to preach it passionately, consistently, and honestly, leaving the outcome of your endeavors to the Lord whose Word never returns to Him empty but always accomplishes His divine purposes in the hearts of men, “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, ‘We shall hear you again concerning this.’ So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed….” (Acts 17:32-24).

Be not disheartened as some men will reject your message outright as foolishness, sneering at you, for the Apostle sneered at the message of the cross repeatedly and gleefully approved of the stoning of Stephen, all prior to being encountered by the risen Christ. Be hopeful when men express an openness to hear more about the Way, the Truth, and the Life, diligently interceding for them, that by grace they may come to the knowledge of the truth, and be given the gift of repentance which leads to faith and eternal life. Rejoice heartedly when men respond to your message of the cross with enthusiasm and faith, giving unbridled praise to your heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls. God is no respecter of persons and, therefore, neither is the pilgrim who diligently preaches the Good News of Jesus Christ, mercifully extending it to all men, those of every tongue, tribe, race, religion, and nation. Salvation is of the Jews and by grace the Lord is now grafting into the Vine of Christ Gentile branches.

The present hour is that of grace when all men are implored to come to the Savior. An hour is coming, a Day is dawning, when the fullness of the Gentiles will have come in, when the grace of God will abruptly end; and just as the door to the ark closed without notice, so too divine judgment will commence suddenly, when the reaping angel of El Shaddai will cast the cluster from the vine of the earth “into the great wine press of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:19). Until that Day faithful pilgrims of the King of kings and Lord of lords will sojourn on the earth, keeping their hands to the plow, casting the seed of the Word, pleading with all men to be reconciled to God, to be saved from the fearful wrath of the Lamb, to become recipients of the blessed hope of His appearing, to become joint heirs of His glory, as benefactors of the Tree of Life, their names written in the Book of Life. Pilgrim, you possess the oracle of Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord of glory who has entrusted you with the Word of Life is faithful and will empower you by His Holy Spirit as you preach His Word. There are many endeavors to which a man may give himself while on earth, and all are temporal; the greatest enterprise is to be a co-missionary with the King immortal who promised, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)