By Mark Maher
What if on the first day of heaven, Christ showed us our full potential for bringing people into the kingdom of heaven. He might say I love you, but look at what you could’ve done. I am fearful to hear that this was just a fraction of what I was capable of.
For “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” For “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
So we have to “get salty” and be a light. That’s the call. Can’t fall short, can’t be complacent. This window is closing. “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Why do you think Paul said this? What am I trying to win Paul?
He was saying to be the best you can be. To give it your best. To strive to be the best. To be the best version of you. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:25) Paul is reminding us that we’re fighting for eternal life. We train for it, we get ourselves in shape Spiritually, physically, training, preparing for the fight of our lives.
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”(Philippians 3:8)
What if Jesus showed you on the first day of heaven some of the blockers that were diminishing our full potential? You might already know what they are. It’s different for everybody, but we usually all have some barrier, maybe it would be we didn’t have enough courage or focus to call that person who is going through a tough time. Did you ever ask God for that courage? We don’t want to miss these opportunities. Learn how to come alongside, and trust me if they’re hurting, all they want to do is talk.
Maybe just couldn’t get over the fear of asking God for help to overcome that uncomfortable feeling, that little bit of anxiousness that we all have. You know it’s normal, right? They say, feel the fear and do it anyways. Learn to find out what’s on the other side of the fear, I’ll say blessings if it involves relationships and conversations. “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:12) See you’re working with God, He has got you covered, in fact, He likes to see your faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Now without faith, it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he REWARD THOSE who seek him.”
What if I my only goal was to bring as many people to Christ as I possibly could? If that was my only goal, and I was focused, relentless, fearless, courageous, then wouldn’t it strip it all down to where nothing else matters. That one goal would supercede all my excuses. It reminds me of that Michael W. Smith song, that says I’m sorry Lord for all the things I’ve made it, but I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you.
Wouldn’t I have to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31). I mean we can’t allow these things to be blocking our spirits full potential, right? I’d have to lose all the fear, the pride, judgement, etc. It would all have to go. “He must increase, and I must decrease.” (John 3:30) So everything must go, in order to grow, to be the best version that God has for you in this limited time on earth.
So if you were really trying to bring as many people to Christ as you possibly could, wouldn’t the work have to start in us, wouldn’t you have to train to run this race to win? Wouldn’t you have to gain an abundance of love? Wouldn’t love be your greatest weapon? With God, wouldnt you have to overcome a lot of stuff? Wouldn’t it be worth it? I pray for God to give me an abundance of love every day, to see the best in people, James 3:10 says, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” James is arguing that believers should only use their words to bless God, not curse people,” whom God has created and made in his own likeness. So Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 13:2 “you can have faith that can move mountains, but if you don’t have love; I am nothing.” Since “Christ is love” (1 John 4:7) we are ought to reflect this to others.
On that first day of heaven, Jesus might say
“Really, you let fear and worry be a barrier (didn’t you see my Apostle Paul). The more the suffering, the stronger he got, I mean really reflect on that. How many people did Paul bring to Christ? I’d say it was all worth it, the suffering would be worth it. I really don’t see any evidence where Paul even reflected on his own troubles. It was Paul who said “God never gave us a SPIRIT of FEAR, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). He was fearless and he rejoiced through it all. Philippians (while in Prison, death imminent) is the most joyful book in the Bible — the apostle Paul uses the Greek words for joy and rejoicing sixteen times in only 104 verses. He wrote “in Him” and “in Christ” 143 times throughout Paul’s writings. See the repetitive theme.
So in conclusion we have to reflect and ask, are we trying to use God to do our will, or are we allowing God to use us for His will while we are here? What God has for you is for you. You’ll have to choose to fight, and it will all be worth it. You’re working with God, “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)
This has been his plan all along. To flip the bag from five to ten because Christ is a multiplier. Faith is contagious. We were never called to bury our talents and gifts. “For to everyone who has, will more be given, and he will have an abundance.” (Matthew 25:29) So work your window, don’t take this life for granted. Here today, gone tomorrow. (James 4:14)
The goal doesn’t change no matter what your circumstances are. The goal remains; help bring others closer to Christ, “doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)
I know it feels hard to bring people to Christ. At age 47, I was challenged with have you brought even one person to Christ. But if they begin to know you by your faith, they’ll come to you. And then your job is this simply love, encourage, and empathize. And now you have a friend for life, “and two is better than one and three together won’t be broken.”(Ecclesiastes 4:12) God will keep bringing new people into your life and God opportunities are all around us. Personally, I am beyond grateful for every person who has spoken life and faith into me. You have become my strength and through every hardship, Jesus is still worthy of my song.
