Article
A Gospel For All
May 21, 2020
"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
During the Korean War, a Korean woman had an affair with an American soldier. He returned to the United States, and she never saw him again. Shortly after that, she gave birth to a little girl. The child did not look like other Korean children. She had light-colored, curly hair and blue eyes.
In that culture, children of mixed race were ostracized by the community. The mother tried for seven years to raise her little girl, but the rejection became too much. One day the mother did something most of us could not imagine. She abandoned her little girl to the streets. People mercilessly taunted the child. They called her the ugliest word in the Korean language, "tooki," which means "alien devil."
For two years, the little girl lived on the streets, until finally, she made her way to an orphanage. One day, word came that a couple from America was coming to adopt a little boy. All the children were so excited as they wondered who the lucky boy would be. The little girl spent the day bathing, dressing, and combing the little boys' hair.
The American couple arrived, which the girl recalled: "I saw this Goliath of a man lift up each and every baby with his huge hands. I saw tears running down his face, and I knew if they could, they would have taken the whole lot home with them. Then, he saw me out of the corner of his eye. I was a nine-year-old, but I didn't even weigh thirty pounds. I had worms in my body, lice in my hair, and boils all over me. I was full of scars and not a pretty sight. But the man came over to me, and he began rattling away something in English. I looked up at him as he took my face in his huge hand. What was he saying? He was saying, 'I want this child; this is the child for me!'"
The gospel of Jesus Christ is all-inclusive. He died for the ungodly, the undesirable, and the unlovely.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." Romans 1:16
In that verse, the Apostle Paul gives the origin, the operation, the outcome, and the outreach of the gospel.
The origin of the gospel: it is the gospel of Christ
The operation of the gospel: it is the power of God.
The outcome of the gospel: it is the power of God unto salvation.
The outreach of the gospel: "to EVERYONE that believeth."
The operation of the gospel: it is the power of God.
The outcome of the gospel: it is the power of God unto salvation.
The outreach of the gospel: "to EVERYONE that believeth."
A gospel for ALL!
Currently, it is planting season in Indiana, and for weeks farmers have been planting corn and soybeans in the fields surrounding my home. People are planting gardens and flowers. After being shut up in our houses for two months, it is good to be outside in the sunshine. Planting seeds give people a sense of normalcy and a feeling of hope. From those seeds will spring new life.
But, I want to talk about the importance of sowing the seed of the gospel. Jesus Christ left no doubt that His gospel was for everyone. Before He ascended back to heaven, He gave the commission to take the gospel to the whole world.
COVID-19 has kept us distanced from each other. If we're not careful, we can sit in our homes and forget multitudes are dying lost without Christ. But there is no social-distancing with God. We are His church, His body, and He expects us to continue to do what we can to sow the seed of the gospel.
We're not all called to preach or be missionaries, but we can support those who are. If you are looking for a trustworthy ministry to support, I highly recommend World Missions to Asia. The men that are part of this ministry are godly, ethical, moral men that love the Lord and have a passion for spreading His gospel to those in spiritual darkness.
This pandemic has brought Bro. Fred Wynn and his team to a standstill. But, the ministry has not stopped. WMA still sends financial support to pastors and churches in Asia.
Around 1885, as the American Civil War drew to a close, French historian Edouard de Laboulaye proposed that France create a statue to give to the United States in celebration of our nation's success in building a viable democracy. They commissioned Frederic Auguste Bartholdi to design the sculpture. The project was to be a joint effort between the two countries. The French people were responsible for the statue, while the Americans would build the pedestal on which it would stand.
In 1992, along with my sister, my niece, and a good friend, I made my first trip to New York City. We decided to take a sunset boat ride. Near the end of the ride, the boat made a sharp swing. And in front of us was an amazing sight. There in all her glory stood America's gift from France - the Statue of Liberty. The statue was lit up, "God Bless America" was playing, and there were tears in most of our eyes.
For years, she has stood in the harbor welcoming immigrants to America's shores, but it almost didn't happen!
In June of 1885, the disassembled statue, packed in more than two hundred crates, arrived by ship in New York City. Sadly, many months later, those crates were still sitting collecting dust. Despite fundraising efforts such as benefits, contests, and exhibitions, Americans had failed to raise the needed funds to build the enormous pedestal to hold the statue.
One day the problem was brought to the attention of the newspaper publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, and he decided to do something about it. He printed a story in his newspapers telling the American people the plight of this wonderful gift from France. He asked everyone to donate no matter how big or small. Letters from all over the country began arriving, and each one bearing a contribution. Some of them contained a dollar bill, some with checks for massive amounts, but from many of the envelopes came quarters, dimes, nickels, and even pennies.
Americans gave what they could afford, and on October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty!
I realize this shutdown has caused tremendous financial hardship for many. But, this story teaches us a great lesson. In 1885, our country was trying to recover from one of the most devastating wars in our nation's history - the Civil War. Yet, the American people rose to the occasion. Many people, despite their own needs, gave what they could to see this project completed.
Jesus Christ is soon coming, and He is looking for His church to rise up and not only share the gospel at every opportunity but also give what we can. We cannot be dominated by the stock market or fear of the economic unknown - God is still God!
I challenge every Christian to support your local church financially, and sow seed, no matter how small, into the ministry of those who are taking the glorious message of hope and salvation to everyone.
Without question, we are going through things we never dreamed of. Every day the news gets more bizarre and shocking. Three months ago, I would not have believed we would see Americans go to jail for trying to earn a living or be ticketed by the police for having church in a parking lot.
All over this nation, civil liberties and constitutional rights are being trampled upon and violated. The whole world is held captive by fear and hopelessness. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for the world.
Albert Barnes said, "The idea of preaching the gospel to all nations alike, regardless of nationality, rank, color, or religion, constituted the beginning of a new era in history. You cannot preach the gospel in its purity without proclaiming the doctrine of civil and religious liberty, - without overthrowing the barriers reared between nation, clans, and classes of men, - without ultimately undermining the thrones of despots and breaking off the shackles of slavery, - without making men everywhere FREE!"
As we thank God for giving us His gospel, may we never forget the whole world he has commanded us to carry His gospel throughout.
The gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel for ALL!
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