Uncharted Territory

I've always admired explorers. There were so many dangers, but yet they were unphased in their adventures. People like Christopher Columbus set off across the Atlantic in search of India, when most people thought he would sail off the edge of the world. Henry Hudson in search of the Northwest Passage fell at the hand of his mutinous crew in Hudson's Bay. Ferdinand Magellan died in the Philippines in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. James Cook died in Hawaii on his third time around the world. Robert Scott's crew died on a return during their race to the south pole with Roald Amundsen. Going into uncharted territory is often dangerous, but usually rewarding.

The Apostles were the first early explorers for Christ. Paul traveled the dangerous roads and seas going from Judea to Spain and everywhere in between. Secular sources have it that John Mark died in Egypt, Jude went into Libya and died in Asia Minor, Simon the Zealot went as far as Britain and Mauritania, and Thomas died in India. They took the commission of Christ and ran with it to the far reaches of the earth.

We should, as Paul did, take the words in Isaiah 52:15 personally, "To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand" (Romans 15:21). The Lord may have placed it in your heart the desire to be a missionary. Seek the Lord for His timing in going out that you might be the instrument for God to those that have not heard so that they might understand.

If you feel your role is to stay home and battle, this same scripture applies to you. Many people in today's world couldn't tell you what John 3:16 says. There are thousands in your local area that don't know the good news of God's salvation. There are hundreds of thousands in your state or province that don't know that when God sent His Son, it was for them. There are millions in your country that are confused by justification by works (James 2) and justification by faith (Galatians 2:16, Romans 5:1).

One of the reasons that the Lord has saved us is to spread His name to everyone. Do we have a good enough testimony for others to see that our salvation is real? Maybe you say that you don't have a gift for evangelism. God doesn't require this in order to save souls. We are to spread the word, the Lord will do the work through His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10). Start with just telling your testimony. People flock to watch movies based on true stories, and watch Opera and Dr. Phil by the millions to see stories about things that have changed people's lives. How much greater is the change in our life on the day of salvation compared to anything that this world fabricate!

Let us go into uncharted territory. Find the people who have never known the way of salvation. Tell them about the gospel that they might have what we have. Let God work in the hearts of men and women that many more might be added unto the kingdom. Some seed will fall on good soil (Luke 8:15), and the word will not return unto the Lord void (Isaiah 55:11). It's up to us to get the message out into uncharted territory, then we can allow God to do the real work.