We Are "AN" Opportunity, Not "THE" Opportunity

Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 NKJV

While working as a Bible Worker and lay pastor in a small church in west Texas, several of the members told me they hoped I would stay there forever, because they could not survive without me. I was young and stupid enough to believe them. However, the church membership more than doubled – not while I was there – but after I left! And, the people who came in after I left were not people with whom I had studied. They were people who never heard of me and didn’t know I existed.

While taking the gospel and the salvation of souls seriously, I have learned not to take myself so seriously. I can still rejoice even when someone rejects me because I know I presented them with an opportunity to make a choice. While I want everyone to choose Jesus, I know not everyone will.

Whatever else happens, once the gospel has gone into all the world, and that last decision has been made for or against Jesus then He will come. Every decision for or against Jesus is one decision closer to the second coming. This is why it is important to spread the gospel even if people do not accept it. Either way we hasten the Second Coming by just being the “angel” ¹ that takes the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, allowing people the opportunity to choose. So don’t be too disheartened when your missionary project does not yield the results you hoped for. It was successful in giving people an opportunity to choose either way.

But we are just that. An opportunity. Not The opportunity. Let’s not take ourselves so seriously. People can reject us and still accept Jesus. What people think about me is trivial in the scheme of the great controversy. So don’t lose heart or take slights and rejections to heart. Just because someone says No to me, does not mean they will say No to the next person God sends. There is still hope.

After leaving Texas and working in Florida as a Bible Worker for a few years, a pastor friend from Texas called me. He asked how many baptisms my church had so far. I told him 90, with 48 of those being in the current year.

“Wonderful!” He exclaimed.

“And how many of those were from your work?” He asked.

“None of them!” I said.

Yup. After a church in Texas more than doubling its membership AFTER I left, I finally learned a thing or two.

Note that “angel” literally means “messenger.” ↩

Print/PDF/Email

(25)

Comments

We Are “AN” Opportunity, Not “THE” Opportunity — 9 Comments

Chris Pemhiwa on September 25, 2015 at 10:47 am said:

Thanks for sharing William! Its a refreshing reminder that this is after all the Lord's work and He it is Who works in us to do and to will of His good pleasure! He is the One Who is saving us and we are called to work out our salvation by allowing Him complete access to work IN us to do and to will ...

(9)

Reply ↓
Bothwell Watadza on September 25, 2015 at 3:23 pm said:

Thanks for sharing your experience, very encouraging that people can reject us and accept Jesus..people can say no today but yes tomorrow.

(6)

Reply ↓
Paul Blanke on September 25, 2015 at 8:55 pm said:

William, what you have shared is refreshing and timely. I can relate somewhat. After being the head deacon for 15 years or more there have been some changes and there will be a new head deacon in our church this next year. Some say it is time for a change. We can easily get caught up with our perceived ability to serve and see no reason for change. Unintentionally we even let our ego and self importance be the main controlling emotion in our self examination. We all need to be humble and guided by the Holy Spirit, to be used in what ever manor that God chooses.

(6)

Reply ↓
Bheka Dawu on September 25, 2015 at 9:15 pm said:

Thanks William! Our job description is to 'preach, teach, baptize'. We are not required, nor are we equiped, to convert. I've got a friend in my local church who always points out that the church is adopting a 'business model'. Everything has to be quantified and results must match/justify investment. Any evangelistic effort that yields no tangible results is therefore regarded as a failure. This puts pressure on pastors to do ANYTHING that will help fill the pews. Remember 'sub-prime lending'? We are witnessing a version of that today in the church.

(10)

Reply ↓
Stewart Crafts on September 25, 2015 at 9:25 pm said:

"when [we] remember that there are varied minds to be reached, and that some will reject the truth as it is presented by one laborer, only to open their hearts to God’s truth as it is presented in a different manner by another laborer, [we] will hopefully endeavor to labor together in unity." (Gospel Workers p.483)
_________________________

I think it is good for us to have felt "rejection" in our work. It is not pleasant, but it is good for us... if, that is, we learn the lesson that our material, our manner, and our way, is not suited to all. Others may be better suited to a specific situation at hand. We really need to be able to shake the proverbial dust off of our feet -- spiritually speaking -- because the feelings of hurt and anger that come from a perceived rejection can be overwhelming. And if we allow hurts and resentment to cling to us, after we've made such large efforts, then we will only blame the hearers. And yet we do not need to "blame" them or ourselves - perhaps we were not the right person for the time and place.

What a blessing it is to be able to shake off feelings of hurt and resentment!

(10)

Reply ↓
Michael Sharp on September 26, 2015 at 2:19 am said:

Oh bless the Lord! Thanks again William I am encouraged. Sometimes we can become discouraged when we don't see the fruit of our labors, forgetting that it's not about us. Thanks for the reminder. keep up the good work.

(5)

Reply ↓
Ron Coleman on September 26, 2015 at 6:52 am said:

This is just as true on a Denominational level as on a personal level.

(6)

Reply ↓
Easyway Gwiza on September 30, 2015 at 12:42 am said:

Thanks for the good information which came on the right time. Lets go into the field knowing that we are only sower and the harvest is God's

(1)

Reply ↓
Odoom John (Klinsmann) on October 9, 2015 at 4:15 pm said:

You've really made a point. Let the God's Word (BIBLE) be our yardstick than comparing ourselves to others, because our services are to the Lord not human.

(1)

Reply ↓