The book “Songs of the Deliverer” tells the story of Christ re-imagined in modern day. The book is a work of fiction but the stories and characters are based on the New Testament. These Reflections are written to highlight the Biblical pericopes featured in the second book of the series, Faith Wins, to be published in 2016.
Referenced in Chapter 1
Overheard from an apostle on the mountaintop in Galilee –
“Jesus is so amazing. This man who lets us call him friend. Just think of everything he’s done for us. The beautiful lessons he taught us. The excellent wine he gave us to drink. The plentiful fish and bread he gave us to eat. How often he rescued us from danger. How he made the lame walk and the blind see. How he promised us the Holy Spirit to comfort and counsel us.
And now he has risen from death and is coming back to talk to us one more time. We’ve received so much from him, I wonder how much more he’ll give us now? Listen, he’s going to tell us:
‘Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ (Matthew 28:19 – 20)
Wait, what?
He wants us to go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything he has commanded. But that sounds like work, a lot of work. Why can’t it be like before when we just received all the great stuff Jesus provided?”
Yes, it would be easy if we could receive the benefits of being a Christian and bear none of the costs. But that’s not how it works. Jesus was born a man to be the Word of God on earth. He made a promise that eternal life in heaven is ours if only we follow and believe in him. Then he gave the proof of his promise by rising from death. And the apostles were witnesses. Jesus turns to them and says: Go tell the people about me teaching them what I taught you.
And then he was gone.
And now the duty of an apostle falls to us. It’s our duty to go and spread the news about Jesus Christ. So, we have a choice. Either we accept Jesus’ great commission and go to the people with the good news of salvation, or we keep it to ourselves. But if we keep it to ourselves, the news will die with us. Do you see the sharp decline in the number of professed Christians among young people today? What happens to the next generation when even fewer walk and talk the faith? And the next? If the apostles had not had the courage to go out into the world proclaiming the message of Christ, there would be no Christians today. Christ would be dead to the world and the world dead to Christ.
Even more, sharing the faith is about taking a stand and declaring: this is who I am.
And I am a Christian.
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