⁶But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). ⁷ And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” ⁸ In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;
    it is on your lips and in your heart.”

 

I wanted to talk this month about the sovereignty of God; so often we ask what does God need us to do in order to see his kingdom come in our community. What outreach do we need to put in to place? What prayer do we need to pray? What can we do to see revival in our country?

 

Romans 10:6-8 tells us that Jesus is not far away from us in the heavens, or still lying dead in the grave, but risen. There is no action we can perform to be closer to Christ, not seeking his descent from heaven or following him in to the depths of the grave. Jesus is alive and he is with us, his grace covers us no matter what we have done and nothing we can do will earn it any more. The word of his resurrection and defeat of death should be on our lips and should be a fire burning in our hearts to share the good news with others but it is not something that we can change our worthiness for.

¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”^[h]

This later passage in the book reaffirms how important it is for us to be sharing the good news with those around us and further afield. I think it is always a challenge for us, in our comfortable lives, to be bold about advocating for Christ; making the first step in a conversation, especially with those close to us who we fear we will push away if we “evangelise”.

 

I recall a story that I heard once, two boys grew up together and were inseparable friends. One, went to church every Sunday morning, had found his own faith and loved the Lord. His friend’s family didn’t go to church. Every Sunday the friend would play football down the park; being the close friends they were, his friend would invite him to come and play football, the boy would find excuse after excuse for why he couldn’t attend – not wanting to embarrass himself by saying he would be at church instead. Finally the boy couldn’t take it anymore, he admitted to his friend that the reason he couldn’t play football was that he went to church. His friend said, “I know, but I’ve invited you to play football every weekend for years and you’ve never once invited me to church, I figured it couldn’t be that important to you.”

 

Robbie Forsaith

Office Manager