Spreading The News

Yesterday, as I began to read the first chapter of Revelation, I thought about how very close Jesus’ return really is. The terrible consequences of sin, being left behind after the Lord’s return, and suffering in eternal fire is not something I want anyone to have to go through. We have not come into the knowledge of Christ to keep it to ourselves. When Jesus got ready to ascend to Heaven, He gave us instructions to go out and preach the gospel to others. Today, let’s take a moment and really think about whether we are actively obeying the instructions that Jesus gave us.

I would like to share a story with you from a book called “Say Goodbye to Shame” by Jackie Kendall.

Crime- Keeping Good News to Oneself

On April 15, 1967, at a teen Bible study, Larry Munos showed me how I could receive the gift of eternal life. I couldn’t resist such a gift! After I left the Bible study, I hurried home to call my best friend. When she answered the phone, I enthusiastically began to tell her how she could receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Her response was “Oh, I already did that when I was in elementary school.”

I immediately said “I probably am not explaining this clearly. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart today, and I know I am going to Heaven.”

Judy answered me in an aggravated voice, “ Jackie, I told you I already asked Jesus into my heart when I was at church camp.”

I said, “ There is no way you could have such a great gift and not tell me- we’ve been best friends for two years.” We started to argue, and I kept repeating how shocked I was that my best friend could have kept secret something so significant as knowing how to get to Heaven. I remember getting off the phone and praying that I would never be the kind of Christian who would keep such good news a secret.

For many years now, I have met Christians who, like my best friend, are comfortable with keeping such good news to themselves. I have always felt it is a crime to keep such good news from those who are needy. I found a story in the Old Testament that verifies my feelings concerning this crime.

In 2 Kings 6:24-7:20, famine had overcome the city of Samaria. The desperate condition was reflected in an incident where a mother proposed that parents eat one another’s children. Four lepers from this needy city realized they would find no relief for their desperate condition. Men who lived daily with physical and emotional stress, these four left the city of no hope and “happened” upon a campsite that apparently had been abandoned by the enemy. They found horses and donkeys and tents full of food, silver, gold, and clothing. As they were eating and celebrating their great fortune, the four lepers simultaneously said to one another, “Hey this ain’t right!!” (ain’t-appropriate jargon for lepers who have been kept out of better schools in Israel). Four desperate men understood that their good fortune was not for their needs alone but for sharing with other needy people. Their leprosy could have convinced them of their justified selfishness, but their non-leprous hearts showed them the crime of keeping good news to oneself.

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This story reminds me how important it is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Remember, we don’t need to have an actual “ministry” to preach the gospel to the lost. Our ministries can be at our jobs, at the mall or even at the grocery store. Let’s not just go to Heaven, but let’s take others with us as well.

“Crime Keeping Good News to Oneself” from “Say Goodbye to Shame” was written by Jackie Kendall.

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