Fishers of Men

Heard some really good news lately? You are fortunate if you have. For today we live in a world that is bombarded by a succession of distressing news. There is a daily fare of crime, grime and slime. There is crime—murders, rapes, robberies. There is grime—pollution, uncollected garbage, slums. There is slime—pornography, pedophilia, corruption. One top of all these, there is war, famine, violence, violation of human rights, abortion, drug addiction, natural calamities, and so on. Many people dread to face what each new day will bring. An ever-intensifying darkness looms over the world and over people’s lives. But all is not hopeless. The growing darkness can be turned back. And what can do it is one piece of really good news that has been around for some time. In fact, for almost 2,000 years. Here it is: the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John the Baptist proclaimed it (Mt 3:2). Jesus himself proclaimed it (Mt 4:17). Then Jesus told others to proclaim it (Mt 10:7). Fully understood, what they proclaimed was, and still is, the best news we can ever hear.

But many do not know about this incredible piece of good news. Many, living in the midst of the sorry state of our world today, are so hungry for some good news that they have become desperate. For any little thing that might bring some light into their lives. But God, out of his mercy and love, not only has brought some light into people’s lives, but He has sent the One who is himself the light of the world. God sent His own Son Jesus, who became man, walked on the earth and ministered to people, and finally went to his death on the cross. But by his death and resurrection, he dispelled the darkness of men’s lives and he redeemed them from bondage to Satan. As men recognize his saving deed and respond by accepting him as Savior and Lord, then they are restored to their relationship to the Father and to their inheritance as children of God. And they become citizens of the kingdom of heaven. This is the good news. This is the gospel of salvation in Jesus. This is the only really essential piece of good news that men need to hear. But here lies the problem. Many people simply have not heard of this good news. Many people in the world today continue to live in darkness, when the light of Christ has already come. Many continue to live powerless and ineffective Christian lives, when the power that conquered death itself is already available for their day-to-day lives. Many continue to be enslaved by Satan, when in fact they have already been set free by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Such good news needs to be heard. But it can only be heard if it is proclaimed. And so there is a need for bearers of the good news. Here we have the other problem. Those who have already heard the good news have not passed it on. Those who know the gospel have not been proclaiming it. Those who have received God’s gift of salvation have not shared that gift with others.

This situation is not as God intends. God went to great lengths to bring salvation to men. And God wants those who have experienced this salvation to become instruments in bringing this salvation to others. What God wants to do in the world today is to raise up fishers of men.