The Apostle Peter charged us in 1st Peter 3:15 to “…sanctify the Lord in your hearts: and be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Upon meditation, I concluded that this verse calls to our attention three facts. Firstly, as “believers,” there ought to be a hope in us, a raison d’être, if you will. Secondly, we must know why we have this hope, a reason. Thirdly, we must be able to communicate this reason to the world. We live in a dirty world and in dark times. The Bible refers to us as the light of this world, going further to charge us to let our light shine because of the possibility that light may be hidden. Sadly, most of us have hidden the light of God in us from those who need it the most: the dark world. We know whom we have believed, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We know why we have believed: that we may have life and have it in its fullness, eternally (John10:10, John 3;16). Where a good number of us are therefore lacking is in communicating this reason to the world. The truth is, preaching the Gospel of salvation through Christ is a mandate given to us by Christ himself (Matthew 28:18-20). And though you may have your reasons why you’re not executing this mandate—perhaps you’re not the talking type, or you don’t know much of the Scriptures—whatever it may be, you’re not just failing God but you’re failing the dark world. The world lies in darkness because it has been subjected to it (Romans 8:19-22), and the onus lies on the sons of God to liberate it. In fact, the world anticipates salvation. However, “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?” (Romans 10:13-14) God has done the work of dying, and has assured us that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and all we must do is preach this name so the world can be free. When you see sin, take it as a question to the hope you carry and communicate it. The world will continue to be dark until we rise and reconcile it to the Light. “…Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (1 John 1:5, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2 Timothy 4:5). “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” – Charles Spurgeon.
Jonas-Attabo Samson