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An executive headhunter once recounted to author and evangelist Josh McDowell a perspective-altering conversation.
“When I interview executives,” he said, “I like to disarm them. I offer a drink, loosen my tie, put my feet up, and talk about baseball, football, family—anything to relax them. Then when they’re comfortable, I lean forward, look them in the eye, and ask one question: What is your purpose in life?”
He said it was amazing how many high-level executives fell apart at that moment.
“But one day I asked a man named Bob that question,” he continued. “Without blinking an eye, he said, My purpose is to go to Heaven and take as many people with me as I can. For the first time in my career, I was speechless.”
Mark Twain once wrote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.”
In Christian terms, we might say the two most important days are the day you are born again and the day you discover why you were born again.
If you have experienced one without the other, here is a claim you can make your own: I am where I am at this moment because Jesus has entrusted me with the continuation of what He began until the earth’s four corners have been reached.
The Apostle Paul asked a series of penetrating questions:
"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’"
Romans 10:14–15
Do not think these words were meant only for a select few long ago. Quite the opposite. You are every bit as called to testify to others as others once testified to you.
A missionary in a foreign land once gave a new convert a Bible. Months later he saw the man again and noticed the Bible was nearly destroyed, its pages torn out.
Alarmed, the missionary said, “I thought you treasured the Bible I gave you.” The man replied, “It is the finest gift I have ever received. I gave one page to my father, one to my mother, and one to each person in my village.”
That new convert’s journey had already begun. Early in his faith he moved from being merely a disciple—one who learns—to an apostle—one who is sent.
If you’ve not made that same move from disciple to apostle, the time is now. Pray even for a holy discomfort until you begin stepping into that calling.
C.S. Lewis once said, “I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”
Take comfort in this: the Holy Spirit has uniquely equipped you for the work God has called you to do. Your gifts were custom-tailored for your assignment, or purpose.
Listen closely to the longing of the world around you. Creation itself "waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19)."
Your voice must be part of that revelation.
For centuries the people of Jerusalem lived under constant threat of invasion. Watchmen stood on surrounding hills to warn of approaching danger. When bad news came, a flag was raised by day or a fire lit by night.
Never once did a watchman announce good news. Yet the prophet Isaiah, writing 700 years before Christ, foresaw a day when the watchmen would proclaim joy:
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace… who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
Isaiah 52:7
The time has come for you, as an ambassador of Christ, to take your stand along the watchtower—raising the flag by day and lighting the fire by night, proclaiming good news.
You may object, “I’m no preacher.” In fact, you are, because God has given every Christian a pulpit.
The question is not whether you have a pulpit, but whether Good News is being announced from it?
If so, keep forging ahead, leaning harder into God’s purpose for your life. If you’re not giving out the Word, yet see the mess the world is in, could that be why?
“He who prepared us for this very purpose is God (2 Cor. 5:5)."
