August 20, 2023… some remembered thoughts of the late George Forbes, missionary spokesperson, that remind us to be about our Father’s business.

Jesus, the Saviour of the  world – a dark world now –  declared in Matthew 24:14, ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come.’

‘The end’ is ultimate! But between now and the end with God’s enabling the gospel of Christ must be proclaimed in the entire world as a witness to all nations. Then and only then, will the glorious end come.

Then and only then will…

• Christ appear in the clouds.
• The dead in Christ rise!
• We (who are still living) be caught up with them and together we will all meet our Saviour Jesus in the air to be with Him forever!

Meanwhile…
We must be about our Father’s business! With His guidance, enabling and power, there is much work to do that must be done!

In Luke 2:49MKJV, referring to His heavenly Father, Jesus said, ‘Why did you look for me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?’ 

And what was (is) His Father’s business? Why the good news that includes the missionary business, the big business… I am convinced that it is the biggest business on earth!

Jesus, our example, was the first missionary of this business. It was and still is a truly wonderful business, as well as being a serious a business requiring commitment. Think of the –

• Multiplied missionaries and their co-workers through the centuries.
• Fruit of their labours in the harvest fields of the world.
• Faithful who have committed to sponsoring dedicated missionaries… and those who still do so today!

As the gospels record, Jesus was certainly about His Father’s business – and we too must be about our heavenly Father’s business – it’s the biggest on earth! 

No other enterprise, including the great companies that are respected and powerful in human terms matches this big kingdom business. International consortiums, mining giants, car and aircraft manufacturers, and all human enterprises of human skill investment and complexity, cannot match the ‘Father’s business.’

Our Father’s business must be our business!

It is spiritual, eternal, totally life-changing and glorious! God’s business is about …

• Souls – it turns sinners into saints, broken lives into bountiful believers.
• Real people who need redemption, forgiveness and purpose.
• People with their unique culture, history and language.
• People Groups, both large and small, who live in their millions far from any church.
• People from every part of the world!

No shortcuts in this business
Too many believers are looking for a shortcut to the completion of the harvest. They spend too much of their time trying to prove that the end is nearer than we can imagine. Many have set dates again and again for the return of Christ and the culmination of all things.

And, so sadly, in doing so many have apparently forgotten the scope of the Great Commission that includes every tribe, tongue and nation!

We all – every Christian – need to see, sense and savour the setting of each people group, created by God in their uniqueness. People who are so loved by God, for whom Christ died, and for whom He rose again and offers full salvation (John 3:16-17).

Let’s all need remember that Jesus came to earth not just for we who know our redemption but for every unsaved human being across the world, not just in our own nation but in all nations!

We must all do whatever we can to fulfil the Great Commission and help reach both our own nation and others! Then, and only then, the end shall come.

It is vital that we believe that the end shall come after all the harvesting of souls. That it will only come, when the task assigned to followers of Christ by the Lord Jesus Himself is completed. Not a moment before or a moment after.

And – the end will be more glorious than our minds can fully comprehend yet. There will be a gathering of multiplied million upon millions of the redeemed from every tribe, tongue and nation.

Revelation 7:9-10 paints an astounding picture – ‘After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”’ 

A great multitude at Christ’s return
I stood some 30 years ago on a dais set up for an all-day of prayer in Yoido Plaza, Seoul, South Korea. As I looked to the limits of the huge plaza to my left and right and straight ahead I was told by a local pastor that there were one million South Koreans gathered there for this day of prayer. It was the largest gathering of people I had ever seen.

But ahead, for every follower of Christ is the glorious day of His return and the great multitude – greater more than what I saw that time in Korea – before the throne of God and the Lamb, worshipping and giving thanks for our salvation. A multitude of the redeemed of all nations that no one can number.

My concern here is that we all – just not missionaries abroad, but we at home too – will be…

• About our Father’s business, the biggest business in the world!
• Involved in witnessing Jesus wherever we are.
• Playing our role in advancing the kingdom and hastening in the return of our Saviour!
• Praying for missionaries, wherever their posting is.
• Giving faithfully to our denomination’s missionary projects.
• Seeking to be ‘missionaries at home.’

May we all be involved in the biggest business in the world – and assist in hastening ‘the end.’ Remember… we have the blessed Holy Spirit’s help!

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Dr George Forbes was internationally recognised as a missionary spokesperson with a heart for the lost of the nations. With a wealth of missionary knowledge and a unique ability to communicate the global picture, he was widely known as the ‘storyteller.’ Link: Full Steam Ahead Following the Father.
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