be no difference of interpretation. There is no "maybe" about the meaning. The words are simple and direct: "Go ," "world," "preach," "gospel" and "every creature." Whatever your denominational af filiation the imperative of the Great Commission remains the same. I have had people ask me if they should be "missionary-minded." My response is that if you are not you are not living in the will of God. No church has any reason for its existence if it is not a mission ary church with a world-wide em phasis. The promised power of the Holy Spirit is not given that a Christian may enjoy some unusual religious experience. It is given that we may take the Gospel to the world (Acts 1:8). People will generally answer, "My Jerusalem is my home town. I will do my part to evangelize it. Someone else may pick the USA as his goal, while still another will plan to go to the uttermost parts of the earth. All sorts of choices are made. The fact is, however, that there is no real choice. Jesus did not say, "Ye shall be witnesses, either in Jerusalem, or in Samaria, either unto the ut
termost parts of the earth." What we have is a bold command situ ation. What is a man in the will of God but one who is located phys ically in one place, whose heart beats, whose prayers go forth, whose gifts are used, so that in some way and by some means he does his job properly in his own area, while still reaching out and wrapping his arms around the world. This is God's vision and program. Remember these four words: "Not maybe, but must!" The Urgency As far as we know, the last words Jesus spoke to men here on earth were to His followers in the Great Commission. He has told us through them that it is our task to get the Gospel to the world. The verb of the Great Commission is not "done" but "do." The fact is we have not done the job which re mains to be done. This is from the standpoint of place, population, and publication of the Word. We have not completed our Lord's fin al orders. Even in Canada there are vast stretches of snowbound land where men and women live that have not seen a missionary. There
Commission by Paul B. Smith
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