Preaching the Gospel!

(Mark 16:15) “And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Many things in our lives have very little to do with us per say; it may involve us but be totally out of our hands. The air we breathe, the healing and aging process etc. I am aware that my body is designed in such a way that it is able to heal, God has ingeniously put together all their working parts. Although my knee is now painful after my operation, it must feel pain before the repairs is completed and functioning as it once did. There is a great principle we are taught from this type of example; it is pain that helps to teach us to look forward to our hope. The trials of life are painful at times! Now would this have been necessary if Eve had not eaten of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, if sin had no bearing on our lives? There is no point in debating what could have been, let’s stick to the facts of life. Imagine how many people will be reasoning like that throughout eternity; if only I had taken Christ sacrifice seriously, if only I paid attention to what he or she had to say about Him.

So as long as I shall animate, God gives me oxygen to breathe in order to live, there is no need on my part to make an effort to find air to breathe, it is a gift from God and all receive this gift, both those who believe and those who curse God. A person gets injured and the body goes to work and through a process and time it heals itself, were possible; actually amazing when we stop to consider the brilliance of creation, the focal point of God’s creation, mankind.   

The ongoing debate between the Calvinist and the Arminian; although this had its place in my life and in fact actually got me clutching for air as I had to deal with an actualization of being wrong once and now having to readdress my understanding on certain truths according to scripture. Nevertheless, there is no doubt about the brilliance of God’s Sovereignty and how amazing His mind is, Einstein’s mind insignificant in comparison. To be able to unroll a plan from before the foundations of creation, before time began and to cross every “t” and dot every “i” is no mean feat, it is incomprehensible to the human mind and this is why I believe so many Christians struggle with this truth; the “Book of Life”, when was it penned? Forget suppositions, what does the scripture teach? “And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:8)

This then give us inkling into the brilliance of this awesome God we serve and what He is capable of. God’s sovereignty (supreme authority over creation) at play! Nothing or no one will be able to alter His plan, Satan will continue to try but will ultimately fail. This truth must resonate with us in order to get a grip on so many perspectives through life. Having said that we have been given the ability by God to make choices; “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."” (Joshua 24:15): - Although Joshua’s name had been written in the book of life before the foundation of the world, he still needed to make a choice. The thought that the Hyper-Calvinist likes to live out his life and because it has already been pre-ordained that he no longer is responsible, is ridiculous!

It is this type of mind-set that confuses the carnal mind and we know; “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

We must now begin to put on the mind of Christ, we must begin to walk by faith and we must trust God and His Word. Some points in scripture are so far reaching that if we get caught up in trying to rationalise them, before long we are spinning out of control.

We must settle on this mind-set; we have been given a choice and if we choose unwisely there will be consequences to our actions. Here is a prodigious example; “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." (Matthew 26:24): - And yet, David penned this event would happen many years prior to the event; "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." (Act 1:16-17) 

However the focus of daily living must shift onto the individual, it is up to us to independently make daily choices; Get them wrong and we will pay the ultimate price, hell will be our final destination.

My conclusion then, some things in life are beyond our control, like the air we breathe! But whether or not we turn to Jesus Christ the Lord finding forgiveness for our sin must be left up to the individual. It is our responsibility even though God has pre-ordained the outcome from before the foundations of the World. The scripture is clear on this! Here are some verses to back up my point and it is our responsibility as workers together in the gospel to present these options to the world…

“For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."” (Romans 10:13)

“And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15): - it is not up to the individual to decide who will and won’t be saved or whose name has been written in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world, that is God’s domain and it must remain with Him.

Let us therefore be faithful in proclaiming the gospel to all of creation and to then sit back and watch God work according to His good pleasure. Praise the name of Jesus for what He achieved on the behalf of repentant sinners.

Signing off

Tyrone