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Great Courage for a Great Commission

by Travis Tamerius

Reprinted from Grace Notes, March 1997.

I am currently reading a book by Stephen Ambrose called Undaunted Courage. The author recounts the story of Lewis and Clark and their historic expedition to discover what at the time was the newly acquired territory gained from the Louisiana Purchase. As these two men led their group from Saint Charles, Missouri to the Pacific Ocean, they risked many things along the way. They battled the elements and braved the hardships. They encountered Indian tribes who had never before seen a white person. Why? Why did they choose risk above security? What caused these men to be so brave before adversity? What led them to this daring experiment?

Undoubtedly the motives were many. Some of the men were enterprising opportunists attracted to the promises of trade and land settlement. Others were moved by the distinction of being commissioned for this task by the President of the United States. This was service to their country, a chance for future prominence and position. Others were naturalists at heart who wanted to learn of this unseen land filled with grassy plains, mountainous terrain, buffalo, and various flora and fauna. But perhaps a more compelling motivation was simply the passion that fuels a pioneer. This is a story about discovery and exploration.

For Christians, our mission is far more noble and our cause more worthy of our labor. Our potential for real discovery is so much greater in that we are seeing the presence and power of the Triune God in the life of a believer. But it must be admitted that the task of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth seems daunting. The obstacles seem insurmountable: not enough who will go and not enough who will send, language barriers, inadequate resources, countries closed because of political strangleholds and war-torn strife, and - more fundamentally - the unbelief of those who are ignorant of Christ. What to do? Or, in the question of Peter to his Lord, "Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26).

Gratefully, God did not leave us to our own ingenuity and ability for the work of the Gospel. Jesus answered Peter's question by saying, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27). Furthermore, the optimism for the church's success is not to be found in the genius of spiritual opportunists or the cleverness of our sales pitch. For Jesus says, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail" (Matthew 16:18).

Despair often seems easier than hope, trepidation easier than courage. But God's pledge to save sinners should give us reason to be undaunted in our obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus tells us that "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice. . . . " (John 10:16). Confidence for our commission comes from knowing that God Himself will gather a people from "every tribe and tongue and people and nation" to bear witness to His power to save (Revelation 5:9). He has vowed to give a people to His Son as a love gift to be redeemed through the cross (John 17). He has promised to send His Spirit to open up hearts to the Gospel that sinners may respond in repentance and faith (Acts 16:14). We are not doing kingdom business on our own for some absentee landlord. We are the privileged ambassadors for a King who is ever-present and ever-active in making Himself known.