One thing is certain. Every believer will one day stand before the bema judgement seat of Jesus to receive their reward for works done in the body. Once we died to sin through faith in Jesus we became soldiers of Christ and our life is no longer our own. As troopers for the Lord we are left here on earth to praise God and glorify His name by emulating Christ Jesus in all we do. Our orders are to witness for Christ to the ends of the earth to all the unbelievers. This is our prime directive, the first command from God to the saints and the thing that is dearest to God’s heart. It’s the main reason God has left us here on earth. Of secondary importance is doing good works. When we witness we are also emulating Christ.
Jesus came and died on the cross to save sinners. Jesus ascended back to heaven and left it up to us to share the “good news” of the gospel with the world. Jesus is depending on us to be workers in God’s harvest field to save some for the kingdom of God. Someone brought God’s saving grace to us and we owe it other lost souls to pay it forward. How can you live with yourself knowing you didn’t do everything possible to keep a brother or sister out of hell for eternity? They must be warned! They must be won! Imagine you’re standing before Jesus for your reward and you’ve never saved anyone, witnessed to anyone, or sown the gospel seed to anyone. You never did the main thing God asked you to do! What do you expect Jesus to do? Are you expecting Jesus to say “well done”? I don’t think so. No matter what other works you do it all goes up in flames as the Scripture says, like hay, straw and stubble. Jesus will be displeased with your effort.
You’ll get into heaven by the skin of your teeth but you won’t receive a reward for works done in the body from the Father which will impact you forever, and we’re talking about an eternity of billions and billions of years. The Bible contains dozens of verses where God is telling us to witness for him so we are without excuse. So you see, I have no choice, I must obey my Lord’s command. I must find a way to impact God’s kingdom with the time remaining to me on this earth. You have the same challenges I do now that you know. You have your orders! I have my orders! Let’s do it! Let’s roll!
Isaiah 32:20 – Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 – Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.
Mark 16:15-16 – Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Matthew 9:37-38 – The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Daniel 12:3 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Matthew 4:19 – Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:17 – Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.