"Look at this." I had been working on some literature to distribute in the local community. After hours of drafting, rewriting, editing, and finding a publisher, I was nearing the point of printing. Alongside this were late nights building a website designed to be a contact and information point. The project seemed to be coming together, and I was excited to show the nearly finished tracts to my friend.
"The cover looks dated. Like the early 2000s, and the font looks ancient. This isn't appealing at all."
"I was going for a simplistic style."
I could feel the surface of my skin turn hot in response to her words. I'd spent hours doing this, and the tracts were on the verge of being printed. Such a blunt response surely must be from a bad place; perhaps she was trying to dissuade me of my plans.
"Can I ask a question?" they asked.
"Yes."
"If after all of this, the overall response from most people is negative, will you be ok with that?"
The question cuts deep. I know I would be disappointed, but not so much for good reason, as a sadness because of the lack of receptiveness to these precious, life-changing truths. But rather, I had put so much effort into this, and it would feel like a waste if no one received it. I'd been priding myself on the hours, the effort, the answers, and dreaming of a grand change in people's attitudes towards God created by myself. The hopes seemed good, but they were also selfish.
At that point I started thinking of the story of Noah, a man who preached for 120 years and not one person repented. Would he not have been demoralised at least once during that time? How must he have felt boarding the ark with only him and his family? Similarly, most of the prophets saw little of the change they hoped for. John the Baptist preached repentance before the coming messiah and denounced the pretense of the religious leaders. Unfortunately, once Jesus appeared, he was thrown into a dark dungeon and eventually beheaded, not being able to see the Messiah he had so long preached for. Elijah, who spent three and a half years as a fugitive, before calling fire down from heaven. He was determined to see a revival in the nation of Israel. However, after he found that Israel's leaders still didn't repent, he went into despair. How willing was I to work if I saw no results?
A closer examination shows that though the ending of the story at that time seemed negative, they did accomplish a purpose that we can read about thousands of years later. I was yet to learn a selfless principle: to truly save souls, I must not consider my own preferences, but what is best for the work. It's bigger than myself. This is the sanctifying power of working as a disciple of Christ.
"You're right," I answer; the question was enough; no explanation was required. "Jesus, forgive me for my selfish attitude towards spreading the gospel."
The next day I sit down in church; the theme for the day is 'inspired for mission'. The speaker preaches on the parables in Luke 15, focusing on the strenuous effort the shepherd put into finding one lost sheep in a group of one hundred. The loss of one sheep was counted as a tragedy, something worth risking himself for, and upon finding it, a party is held. This dimly compares to the incredible price of God Himself entering the world as a man, daily searching for the salvation of every soul. Dealing with the undue hatred, bitterness, and resentment towards Him, and even when He hangs on a cross, securely attached only by three nails piercing His hands and feet, His thoughts are with the ones who put Him there!
"Preach the gospel or die trying!" he proclaims.
Try to reach at least one person with all the effort I can give, and don't stop until I die? This stirs a warm feeling inside of me; now I'm excited. The greatest projects always involve something bigger than you, and what could be bigger than the eternal salvation of another. I was off target with my idea of the gospel and its true beauty. Seeing the effort of Jesus to save me should be enough for me to do the same.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."
2 Corinthians 5:14–15
The mission is to work for Christ, which means if we do so, we have no reason to give up if we don't see the results hoped for. We must continually work out of love, a love that endures to the end, even as Jesus's did. A simple desire to work for the One who worked so tirelessly to save me and see others saved for eternity, not a year, not five, but eternity in a land of bliss!
And truly the Bible is clear that the work done under the control of the Holy Spirit will produce results.
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Galatians 6:9
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
John 12:32
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Isaiah 55:11
So, we can be assured that if we seek the salvation of others lovingly, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the results will come. As to when and how shouldn't be the question, but rather, if salvation cost this much, could any sacrifice be too great?
Preach the gospel... or die trying!