The 'To Go' Order

Fast-food may not cost much, but it's big business. Golden arches and bright lights dot the American landscape, promising tacos, burgers, and fried chicken served up with the quick question, "Is that for here, or is it 'to go'?"

Fast-food restaurants weren't the first to give someone a "to go" order, though. The Lord told Abram, "Go to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). He told Moses, "Go . . . bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). He told Elijah to go and anoint a king and a prophet (1 Kings 19:15, 16). He told Jeremiah to go and preach his Word (Jeremiah 2:2).

Jesus told an adulteress woman to go and sin no more (John 8:11). After freeing the demon-possessed man known as Legion, Jesus told him, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you" (Mark 5:19). Jesus instructed his disciples to go to the "lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 10:6), and then "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them . . . and teaching them" (Matthew 28:19, 20).

The Lord's "to go" order still applies to us today. Of course, sometimes opportunities come to us. First-time visitors venture into our worship services. International students come to local colleges or universities, curious about Christ. A coworker stands by the water cooler and asks a friendly question that leads to a discussion about faith. When people come to us and "ask the reason for the hope that we have," Christians need to be ready to give an answer "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

However, we can't just sit back on our heels waiting for others to come to us. Those who are fearful and timid will not come to us; we must take the initiative to go to them. Shut-ins cannot come to us; we must go to them. And what about those in distant lands where access to the gospel has been blocked by atheism, communism, or some other anti-Christian system? Jesus' "to go" order means all Christians need to make ourselves accessible to the lost. All of us need to be proactive about spreading the gospel.

It's tempting to play it safe in a culture that says, "Keep your religious views to yourself." But if we are prayerful and attentive, we'll find plenty of opportunities to share our faith—and when an open door presents itself, we must walk through it. After all, we're under orders from the Son of God. We have no other choice. Let's go!