Monday 26 November 2012

On His Majesty's Secret Service

You will have noticed James Bond (007) themes coming through these posts, and I've done so for the very good reason that film titles were suggestive of Gospel ideas that could be used  to present Christ and His goodnews to a lost world.
This title is no different.  There are three ways of looking at this none: (i) we could concentrate on God's secret mission in the world where those He will save may not know it yet, but God is working out His eternal purposes in their lives and circumstances. (ii) There are Christians who see themselves as being involved in this secret mission in the world, yet tend to be 'silent witnesses' to Christ. (iii)  Believers are an integral part of God secret mission in the world, a privilege that we do not fully realise. So let me make a start.

His Majesty, the Lord Jesus Christ, owns this world; He made it ex nihilo (out of nothing), and He sustains it by His powerful Word.  He cares for it in every aspect of its being, and cares about what sinful people are doing in it.  Sometimes He shows Himself but more often He works silently and not noticed by the vast majority of people.  He is engaged in His secret service.  Providentially He is working constantly, unnoticed, unobserved, mysteriously.  As you read this, you may not believe it, but it is nonetheless true.  Have you ever thought about the strange   Things that have happened, maybe even happened to you, have left you wondering what is going on.  That is God working out His secret purpose.  And if He is doing that outside of you, then He may well be doing a similar work in your heart.  He is drawing you to Himself by the invisible cords of His grace.  He speaks to you through the things that happen and also by His Spirit.  He loves you and is working to bring you to Christ.

Are you a Christian?  Then you are involved in this secret service of King Jesus.  He has you as His fellow-workers in the world, working to bring in His Kingdom.  His work is done through His Word, the Gospel.  He has placed you in your particular place to be His witness; that is, to speak of Christ as and when you have opportunity.  Being a 'silent witness' is to be no real witness at all.  "Go for and tell..." Jim Seddan's missionary hymn demands.  Are you telling what the Lord has done for your soul (Ps.66:16).  Be a vocal witness to God's saving grace in Christ.  For through your vocal witness, others will hear of our wonderful Saviour.

As a Christian, you are integral to God's work of mission in the world.  That is not to say that He cannot work without means, but He usually does.  Perhaps you think you are just a church member and that the responsibility for outreach is the minister or the elders.  True, but you too have been called to be a witness to Christ.  You're attitude ought to be, "I'll speak for I cannot keep silent," as one hymn-writer puts it.  Speak out for Jesus while it is still the daytime for night-time comes when no man can speak.  There is an urgency about His Majesty's Secret Service.  Darkness is coming, and for some it is already here.

Speak up for Jesus, or shut up!


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