My overarching takeaway from our recent Forerunners conference is the necessity for me (and each of God’s people) to become fully engaged in God’s now purposes. Simply put, a business-as-usual mindset will not win the day nor adequately prepare us for the future.
As a backdrop to this takeaway, I am reminded that Jesus repeatedly called His followers to full engagement. Specifically, His command to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” is anything but passive. Using this salt and light metaphor Jesus is urging us to preserve biblical values in culture and is calling us to show the way to others through godly living (Matt. 5:13–16). However, as part of this call to activism, Jesus also gives this warning against passivity: “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matt. 5:13Matt. 5:13 NIV).
Reflecting on Jesus’ call to wholehearted engagement and leaning on action points presented at the conference, the following are questions you can ask yourself to evaluate your life.
- Are you stepping out in faith to see dramatically more fruit for the expansion of God’s kingdom and His glory? Are you believing Him for what only He can do?
- Are you standing against cultural issues that are in line with Satan’s destructive purposes, such as the acceptance of recreational marijuana, sexual immorality, transgenderism, and gay marriage?
- Are you leaving the Babylonian system of greed and comfort by living God’s way (Rev. 17–18)?
- Are you content to be declared righteous in Christ without pursuing depth in your relationship with God?
- Do you understand that God judges nations based on the direction the government is leading a nation, what the people want, and what the church is saying (or not saying)? In response to this truth are you humbling yourself to intercede for our nation?
- Are you willing to become informed on cultural issues that intersect biblical teaching? If so, are you willing to promote God’s perspective on these topics in your circle of influence?
In summary, to embrace a do-nothing mindset because “God is going to do what God is going to do” is not taught in the Bible and needs to be rejected. In contrast, God is calling us into full engagement for such a time as this. And yes, this can be our finest hour.
