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The members of Zion are now diligently preaching the gospel for the salvation of all mankind. Even though our efforts to preach are small, God is preparing great, incomparable blessings and rewards for us.
This is a true story that happened in America. One day, a young man, who was a university student, was walking along the road. He felt thirsty and knocked on the door of a farmhouse. Then a girl came out, and he asked for a glass of water. The girl poured milk into a large glass and wholeheartedly served it to the man, who was a stranger to her.
Time passed and the girl grew up. Then one day, she became seriously ill, and had to undergo a surgical operation. The operation was performed by a doctor who was unrivaled in obstetric and gynecological surgery. He was the very young man who had once stopped by her home.
Her surgery was a success, but she was worried about the expensive surgical and hospital expenses. On the day of her discharge from the hospital, the bill was brought to her room and on it were the following words:
“Paid in full with one glass of milk.”
Like the man in the above story, God remembers all our efforts, though small, and He will repay us with rewards which are thousands of times or tens of thousands of times greater than we have expected, when we turn to heaven, our eternal home. As we look into the parables of the talents or minas in the Bible, the servants who obeyed the command of the master and made profits received great glory and authority. So, we should all become faithful even in small things God has entrusted to us (Mt 25:14–30; Lk 19:12–27).
“Preach the gospel,” Jesus’ last request
After Jesus was resurrected, He made the same request to Peter even three times. His request was to “feed my sheep.”
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Jn 21:15–17
The spiritual food for God’s people, who are represented as sheep, is the word of God. So Jesus’ command to “feed my sheep” is His request to save dying souls with the words of life—that is to preach the gospel.
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Th 2:3–4
Preaching is the mission God has entrusted to us, His children. The Bible says that we are approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. Considering this, the task of preaching is not something beyond our ability. The girl was considerate of the young man and served him a glass of milk, and because of her small effort she was blessed with being exempt from the huge medical bill. Likewise, if we preach the words of life to our family and neighbors with all our heart and mind, as much as we can, God will repay us with the immeasurable blessings of heaven.
To give us such boundless blessings, God requested the same thing— “preach the gospel”—even three times. Preaching is the work which only those who love God can do. So God has entrusted it to those whom He approved: ‘They are the people who really love Me.’ So, our preaching is evidence that we love God.
The last thing Christ requested Peter and the other disciples to do was also to “preach the gospel.”
“. . . But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Ac 1:7–9
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told His beloved disciples to “be My witnesses.” This is also the request to be evangelists who preach the gospel of God, isn’t it? All of this is God’s request to those who love Him.
The fate of those who do not preach the gospel
It is in court that a witness is needed the most. Suppose that there is a person who is falsely accused. When he stands up in court as a defendant, if a witness who knows the truth just testifies that he is innocent, he can be proven to be without guilt. But what result will occur if the witness keeps silent without saying anything?
Witnesses should not remain silent so that a judge will make a wrong decision against the accused, but should do their best to perform their duties as witnesses so that the judge can make the right decision. Even though they know that the accused is a good person, if they do not perform their duties but keep silent because it is a bother for them to go out into the court, because the weather is cold or hot, or because they do not want to be seen in public, the truth will be distorted and the defendant will be falsely convicted. In this case, the witnesses cannot avoid their responsibilities for neglecting their mission, either.
At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.” Eze 3:16–19
God said He made us watchmen. This means that He made us witnesses to speak His words to people on His behalf. If people do not understand even though we have faithfully testified, God will hold them accountable for their sins. However, if we do not say anything but just remain silent, God will hold us accountable for all their sins.
So Apostle Paul said that preaching the gospel was not something that he could choose to do or not to do, but the work he must do.
. . . Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 1 Co 9:15–19
If a person who has been chosen as a witness does not speak the truth but gives false testimony, the truth will be distorted and it will be treated as falsehood, and finally all the woes and disasters will befall the person who has forgotten his or her duty as a witness.
Apostle Paul realized this fact, and he devoted himself exclusively to preaching the gospel, always humbling himself, so that he could lead as many as possible to repentance and salvation, saying, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
Beautiful feet of those who follow God
God has called us and chosen us as the witnesses to preach the gospel. Nevertheless, if we keep silent, the truth will be obscured—the truth about God who has come as the Savior in this age will be perverted and the distorted truth will be known to the world. How can mankind be saved without receiving the Savior?
We have been entrusted with such a great mission. God has chosen us as witnesses to testify about Heavenly Father and Mother, who came to this earth in the flesh, and has told us to be Their witnesses in Samaria and to the ends of the earth, not just in a certain area.
So let us go out into the world and clearly tell all people why Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother the New Jerusalem are God and why they cannot be saved unless they believe in the Spirit and the Bride. If we do not tell them, there is no way they can know God, and they cannot help but misunderstand Them.
. . . for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Ro 10:12–17
How can people know about the gospel by themselves without someone preaching to them? Witnesses must open their mouths so that the truth can be revealed. In court, only the person who can be trusted to actively testify to the truth is selected as a witness.
Elohim have chosen us from among so many people in the world and appointed us as Their witnesses. Since They approve us and are pleased with us, They have given us this invaluable opportunity to testify to God. So we must not miss the opportunity, but we should actively testify to God as evangelists of whom it is said, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 1 Co 3:5–6
Apostle Paul summarized his gospel ministry in a single statement: He planted the seed of the gospel, Apollos additionally provided the gracious words of God to people, but God managed everything and made it grow. We are merely God’s witnesses and workers, and the One who leads the gospel work is God who pours out the Holy Spirit in our hearts and gives us faith.
Witnesses do not need to think about the result of the trial, but they should just perform their duties as witnesses faithfully. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God has taught us that it is our duty to preach the Word to people, whether they listen or fail to listen.
Now we have to diligently preach the gospel to all people throughout the world. We should let all people around the world know and receive the Christ, who has come to this earth, so that they can all be saved and go to the kingdom of heaven together.
Let us carry out our mission as God’s witnesses by preaching the Word to the whole world
There are many places in the Bible where God requests us to preach the Word. To the workers of the gospel who follow this request, God has promised the crown of righteousness.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season . . . But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Ti 4:1–8
Do you not want to receive the glorious crown of righteousness? Who can bear the sorrow and agony if he or she alone cannot receive the crown of life while all others around him or her receive it?
Let us preach the Word to everyone we meet, including our family, neighbors and coworkers, who have not yet come into the truth. We will surely be rewarded for our efforts, though small, just as the woman was rewarded for her small effort to serve a glass of milk, which substituted the huge medical bill. God has given us the word of life which can revive all people if they only listen to it, and has also granted amazing results to us, God’s people in this age, so that we can feel even more proud than Apostle Paul did.
If we follow the method prescribed by God, the gospel will be accomplished swiftly. Rather than insisting on our own way, we should examine ourselves to see if what we think and pursue matches the will of God. When we live our lives in accordance with the will of God, we can be beautiful and faithful witnesses to the gospel.
Witnesses are to perform their duties not only with words but also with deeds. We should not only preach the literal texts of the Bible, but we can also testify how true and just God is through our deeds in our everyday lives, whether at home or at work. If we are trustworthy witnesses for God, we should serve as the salt and light of the world through our good deeds and lead the world to the truth by preaching the word of God. Following the teachings of Heavenly Father and Mother, let us always live an upright life. And with our beautiful deeds as taught by God, let us go to Samaria and to the ends of the earth, and carry out our mission as God’s witnesses not only in our own country but also in every place around the world.
Please do not forget what Jesus requested even three times 2,000 years ago. That is also our Heavenly Father’s last request that He left when He came to this earth a second time. Realizing the will of God who has called and chosen us, let us all faithfully carry out our mission as God’s witnesses by preaching the gospel to all people throughout the world.