I. Introduction:
Scripture Reading: (Mark 16:15) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
While I was working in the V Corps Chaplain’s office in Frankfurt, Germany; I came in contact with many wonderful Christian individuals. One of the most inspiring was a German by the name of Carl Scholz. In speaking to him one day, he related to me of how that during the Second World War he served as a Nazi soldier, but not believing fully in what they were doing, he tried to desert, but failing in his attempt, was captured and thrown into prison. He was accused as a deserter, and thus was sentenced to die before a firing squad along with another of his conrades.
When the day came they were both marched to the outskirts of the town, and the spot where they were supposted to be executed. Not hearing the change of orders, Carl didn’t realize that all rifles were to be turned to his conrade instead, letting him live. Rifles fired, and in shock, he also fell to the ground. They picked him up and again was placed in prison. The months passed, and finally Carl was set free. The war had also ended, and not having any place to go to, he went from war-torn village to the next. One last hope was his only living relative, his mother...and by the time that he found her, he realized that she was entombed in the communist side of Berlin. Again lossing all hope, he made his dwellings in the bomb stricken buildings, drinking more and more with each passing day.
Finally receiving word that his mother had been killed while trying to escape the communist, he felt his last hope fly out of his body. He said to himself, "Now, what’s the use of living!" So, he went down to a near-by river hoping to drown his sorrows by throwing himself into the river. As he was about to jump he heard soft singing coming from a near-by wooden building. He could well remember the words...
"When Jesus comes the tempter’s Pow’r is broken,
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away;
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay."
Hearing such sweet words, he came closer to the building wanting to hear more about this Jesus. As he approached the door, he read those gentle words which have meant so much to millions of individuals throughout the ages...
"Gott Ist Liebe - God is Love;
Gott Ist Leben - God is Life!"
He went inside, and there for the first time he heard the wonderous love that God had for him. And how He send his only Begotten Son to die on the cross so that he could have life - and have it more abundantly! Eternal Life! Praise God! Carl found Christ at that moment! The young missionary said, "Christ says, ’Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give ye rest’" Carl said to himself, "If there is anyone here burdened down it’s me! I am tired of this life I am living." And that night, Carl went to the altar and said, "Lord, if it’s true that you can change the worst sinner like this missionary says, change me! If it’s true that you can give rest...give it to me! If it’s true that you can straighten out the most twisted life...straighten out mine!" And that night the Christ that had saved Carl from the firing squad also broke the chains of bondage of sin that had his life captive, and he got up from that altar a new person. Christ had saved him...he had forgiven his many sins.
And now, Carl has been preaching and helping in the Berean Missionary Fellowship in Erzhausen, Germany, and bringing others to Christ with his wonderous testimony of salvation.
Carl Scholz is one of the many who have been saved through the missionary effort...because someone cared.
Out of those missionaries comes another name to mind, that of Jack Hetzel. Another name commonly heard throughout the Frankfurt area. Having a choice to remind in the States, or go abroad...Jack, being a man of vision, decided to go to Europe and there began a missionary ministry for our Service men and women, and also started a ministry for the German people in the area. Through his ministry, many have been saved, and brought to a complete knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many from all denominations have gathered together to praise God for his mighty out-pouring in the Frankfurt area.
Once a mighty man of God said while returning from one of his crusades in Europe, "But I have been shocked to find that while I have been evangelizing the world - the pagan - the heathen. Atheistic forces have been enslaving the minds of my own people. Now, I come home to find a new generation of wonderful youth becoming educated pagans. Now, our own youth are saying, ’Where is God? If there is a God, prove it!’"
How many times this has been happening! Our missionaries abroad are giving their lifes to proclaim this wonderful gospel of Christ, while we, here at home, are forgetting Christ. We are becoming bored with the message! In the Tribune, Bishop Kennedy said, "Our churches are becoming little more than social clubs." Christianity is lossing! Thousands of people in our churches don’t have a real committment to Jesus Christ! If the church people would really live a life for Christ - solutions would be accomplished! Everybody in America nearly believes in God, but not serious enough to know - REALLY KNOW HIM!
Oh, we might give Him an hour or so on Sunday morning, but that’s it! What happens to Him the rest of the week? No real dependence of God!
Remember in the Bible when the Jews seeing the wonders of Christ didn’t want to accept Him? Paul said, "It was neccessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you, but seeing ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the gentiles."
When people don’t want to hear what God has to say, God always turns to others..."And when the gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the Word of the Lord was published throughout all the region." (Acts 13:45-49).
Praise God that there are still people who will hear the voice of God! Where do we stand with Christ today?
Before I left Germany, I asked Brother Hetzel if he would return to the States, he replied, "Julian, the missionary field is truly great! While there remains a soul unsaved, we shall continue to return to preach the Gospel of Christ here. Sometimes the burdens are great, and we lack funds to carry on, but the Lord works in mysterious ways. As long as there are people who care...our needs will be met."
To summarize this...let’s look to the future as God sits upon His throne. We notice as the heathen is called before God, the prosecutor, being Satan, approaches the jury (the people of the world), and says, "I demand eternal death to the heathen for they didn’t accept Christ as their Saviour."
The heathen is given then an opportunity to speak, and with fear on his face, looks towards the jury, and says, "How could I accept Christ as my Saviour if I didn’t know Him?" "I tried to find God, but I had no one to tell me of Him. I went to the mountains, and said, ’Mountains, who is God?’ But the echo returned to me, ’Who is God?’ Then, I went to the rivers, and asked, ’River, tell me...who is God?’ But the river became still, and would not respond! I later went to the trees. amd asked, trees, please tell me...who is God? But leaves fell in front of me...dead! I could not find God, I wanted to...but...(turning to the jury)...I had nobody to tell me that He died for my sins."
Again, Satan demanded the death penalty. But now, the Defender, Jesus Christ, was given an opportunity to speak. With tears in His eyes, he looked towards the jury, and says, "If only one could’ve gone. I gave my Great Commission, oh, so long ago, but it was neglected! You, as the jury must act now, it lies with you!"
Yes, it lies with each and everyone of us! Christ said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." What are we doing today? Over one billion, 500 million have never yet heard the Gospel. They are "heathen"! Their harvest is ripe! They want to hear. But, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). They are lingering "in the valley of decision" "multitudes" of them! World populaiton increases by 50 million souls or more every year. Each day over 120 thousand people die without Christ. Everytime you breathe, a poor heathen struggles his last, and sinks into pagan darkness, alone - without hope and without God. Every time the pendulum of your clock swings, someone is ignorant of Christ’s redemption and gasps in hopeless despair as the dark curtains of death enshrond another heathen (unsaved) soul. This is happening right now, as we are here! No wonder Christ’s face was stained with tears!
The missionary ministry starts with us. Even though we can not go personally...yet, we can win lost souls within our own city, and community. We can give our tithes and offerings to help those who are giving their lives in the mission field. Time and time again when this is done, we see the "multitudes" surrender their dead gods, break to pieces their dumb idols and burn their deceitful fetishes. How glorious to watch their lives change "from darkness unto light, and fromt he power of Satan unto God." (Acts 26:18).
In the Psalms, it is written: "Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalms 2:8).
In closing, I want to leave you with the inspiring words of this poem by Evangelist C. C. Grant, "A Plea for Reapers"...
Seest thou the clock of time -
Its’hands now past eleven?
The hou of twelve is drawing nigh,
Then time no more is given.
Seest thou the harvest fields -
The stalks of grain now whitening
In the darkened skies the thunder rolls
Amid the flash of lightning.
Look again: The Lord of Harvest stands -
His head now bowed in reckoning
The stain of tears is on his face
His hand to you is beckoning.
Wilt thou take time for pleasures now -
Wilt thou take time for sleeping
One short hour for you is left,
One short hour for reaping.
Harvest thou those pleading cries -
The souls of men are calling,
At thy feet the sickle lies;
About you grain is falling.
Work awaits in yonder fields -
There’s work for you, o reaper!
Thrust in thy sickle and reap the grain;
The call of souls grows deeper.
