Saul fell to the ground and lost his eyesight for several days. (Acts 9:4)
John fell at his feet as dead. (Rev. 1:17)
Isaiah said, “I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:5)
Joshua fell face down. (Joshua 5:14-15)
Moses covered his face on his first encounter. (Ex. 3:6) Later his face shone so brightly that he put a veil on his face. (2 Corinthians 3:12-13)
Who is it that they encountered? What prompted such reactions?
These people recognized the power and character of the person to whom they were talking. They were exposed to His glory and reacted in comparative recognition of their own character, power and position.
Some day every person shall be in this same position, because we “… all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23)
“For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11)
“Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
As ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), it is our privilege to represent Christ to the world in such a way that people recognize the glory of God before the day of reckoning.
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
So, how do we go about giving this light?
Faith is not believing in God but believing God. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Maybe that is why the Gospel of John is so full of this concept. Knowing truth and actively believing truth are not the same.
God’s design since creation has been to fill the earth with people who believe Him. Our individual choices to believe God, or not, have a much broader impact than we tend to think. The choices in history which have impacted us all, such as the choices of Adam, Noah’s peers or the people of Babel seem so obvious to us. Yet, I wonder if they considered their choices any more significant than the choices we each make every day. God extends to us the same opportunity to believe Him and apply His truth to our lives in a way that greatly impacts our own lives, the lives of others around us and the generations which will follow.
“…Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;” Romans 4:20
People who believe God bring Him glory.
God’s glory, His renown, His good reputation, His praiseworthiness, His worth-ship is not something He takes lightly.
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” (Numbers 14:21)
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
As ambassadors for Christ we have the opportunity to believe God and to present His Word to both those who know Him and those who do not. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We hear His word, we believe His Word and our ways of thinking, our attitudes and our actions change to match what we believe. We then pass on what we have learned to others for their obedience.
“For we are God’s workmanship. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Our ultimate endeavor is to include as many people as possible in the group who experience God’s glory from the position of the redeemed; the children and heirs of His promises. We have been commissioned to go and get them.
King David advised us, “Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.” (1 Chronicles 16:24)
Jesus confirmed this with His command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)
Revelation 5:9 shows us that there will be among the redeemed some from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. The best educated guesses indicate the “unreached” among them to be about a third of the world’s 7,102 living languages. Those are people Jesus specifically told us to reach on the highest authority in heaven and earth. (Matthew 28:18-20)
I wonder how many of those languages will hear of Jesus in my lifetime. I wonder who will have the privilege of telling the last one?
Wherever and whenever that occurs, I want in! I want to have a part in reaching people who have not heard His Word. I want to have a part in declaring God’s magnificent glory where He is not yet known! I want to invite as many people as will believe God to join us in reaching tribes.
Will you join us in expanding the ranks of the messengers to reach the tribes?