Don’t Forget The Mission

What is your mission? Do you have a life mission? Are you just floating through life chasing things that benefit yourself?

For some people, Christianity becomes little more than getting their ticket to heaven punched. They believe, attend church, try to stay out of trouble, and then spend the rest of their lives pursuing comfort, entertainment, money, travel, hobbies, or retirement. None of those things are wrong. Work hard. Take care of your responsibilities. Enjoy your family. Take the trip. Go fishing. Exercise. Take care of your body. But don’t forget why God left you here.

The job is not finished. You and I have work to do. This should be the mission of every retiree. It’s kind of a second career, especially for the believer.

When Elijah ran into the wilderness, exhausted, discouraged, and convinced he was the only faithful believer left, God gave him a surprising answer. Elijah thought he was alone, but God told him, “I have seven thousand people left in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal and whose mouths have never kissed his idol” (1 Kings 19:18 NCV). What does that really mean? It means God was still working even when Elijah couldn’t see it. There were still people who belonged to God. There were still people who needed encouragement. There was still work to do. Elijah wanted to quit, but God wasn’t finished.

The same is true today. Who do you know that doesn’t know Christ?

There are people all around us who are searching for answers. Some are lonely. Some are hurting. Some are successful and miserable. Some are drowning in addiction, anxiety, regret, or fear. Others have spent years trying to fill an emptiness they cannot explain. The mission is not over because there are still people who need to hear about Jesus Christ.

In fact, Jesus never told His followers to simply believe and wait for heaven. His instructions were clear: “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19 NCV). The mission was never just conversion. The mission was helping people know Christ, follow Christ, and become more like Christ.

I am reminded of the starfish story. A man was walking down a beach covered with thousands of stranded starfish. Ahead of him was a young boy picking them up one by one and throwing them back into the ocean. The man said, “There are thousands of them. You can’t possibly make a difference.” The boy picked up another starfish, tossed it into the water, and replied, “I made a difference for that one.” Sometimes we look at the world and think the problem is too large. But God never asked us to save everyone. He simply asks us to be faithful with the people He places in front of us.

One day a religious leader asked Jesus what mattered most. Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:30 NCV). Then He immediately added, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31 NCV). That is the mission in its simplest form. Love God completely. Love people deeply. Tell them the story of what Christ has done.

Why does it matter so much? Because every person you meet is going to live forever somewhere.

I know there is endless debate about what happens after death. Some believe death is simply the end. Others imagine a spiritual existence somewhere in the universe. But when I finally examined the evidence for myself, I could not escape the claims of Christ. I looked at creation. I looked at history. I looked at prophecy. I looked at the hundreds of Old Testament details fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Like Paul wrote, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen” (Romans 1:20). Creation itself points to a Creator. Design points to a Designer.

The Gospel itself is remarkably simple. Jesus lived the perfect life that you and I never could. He obeyed where we fail. He became our substitute. The Bible says, “Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24 NCV). Someone had to pay for sin, and Jesus willingly took that punishment upon Himself. He suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. But death was not the end of the story. Three days later He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin, death, and hell.

And one day He is coming again. But why?

The Bible promises a future beyond anything we can imagine. John saw it and wrote, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4 NCV). Imagine that. No hospitals. No funerals. No cancer. No broken relationships. No fear. No sin. Just the presence of God forever.

Yet Jesus also warned that not everyone will choose that future. He said, “The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to ruin. Many people enter through that gate. But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to true life. Only a few people find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 NCV).

What does that really mean? Which road are you on? Or your friends and family?

The wide road is the popular road. It asks nothing of us. No repentance. No surrender. No submission to God. It simply follows the crowd. The narrow road is different. It requires humility. It requires faith. It requires trusting Christ rather than ourselves. Most people choose the wide road because it feels easier. Fewer choose the narrow road because it requires surrender. But Jesus says the narrow road is the one that leads to life.

Believers have always been the minority. So before you jump in, know you are in the smaller crowd.

That was true in Elijah’s day when only seven thousand had not bowed to Baal. It was true in Noah’s day. It was true in Jesus’ day. It is true now. Yet the minority who belong to Christ discover something remarkable. God’s commands are not designed to rob us of joy; they are designed to lead us into it. As we walk with Him, we find purpose in ordinary days, peace during difficult days, wisdom for hard decisions, and strength when suffering comes. And suffering will come.

So let me ask you something. Is there something inside of you that wants to share this story with someone who may not know it?

Don’t keep it to yourself. Are keeping it to yourself?

Tell it while traveling. Tell it over coffee. Tell it at work. Tell it during family dinners. Tell it while helping a neighbor. Tell it while sitting beside someone who is hurting. You don’t have to be a preacher. You don’t have to be weird. You don’t have to force conversations. Just love people well and be available.

Peter wrote, “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have” (1 Peter 3:15 NCV). Notice that Peter didn’t say to argue with everyone or preach at everyone. He said to be ready. Live your life in such a way that people notice something different about you. Then, when the opportunity comes, explain where your hope, peace, joy, and confidence come from. Simply tell the story of what Jesus Christ has done in your life.

The mission is not over. Your life is not to just coast until you die.

There are still seven thousand who have not bowed the knee. There are still starfish on the beach. There are still people who need hope, healing, forgiveness, and salvation. And God has chosen ordinary people like you and me to carry that message.

LORD, help us see our mission clearly. Help us love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help us love our neighbors as ourselves. Give us eyes to see those who are hurting and courage to tell them about Jesus Christ. Let us be faithful with the people You place in front of us today. IJNIP amen ♥️