Looking at some basic truths of our Christian faith in this Back to Basics series, we’ve seen that once we understand and accept that we are all fallen, sinful creatures, that the consequences of sin is death, and that Jesus has made that payment for us, then we confess and repent of our sins. This leads us to our next basic truth: Christians are not called to keep the Good News of Christ to ourselves. For us, it’s time to go.  

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus’ last instructions to His followers were to go. We aren’t meant to keep this Good News to ourselves, and Jesus will call unbelievers and believers alike to go. In Acts 9, Jesus called Saul to go. Saul had been persecuting the early church and was “eager to kill the Lord’s followers” (Acts 9:1) so he was probably the last guy anyone would have expected Jesus to call out and send into the world. One day as Saul was on his way to Damascus, hoping to bring back men and women in chains, Jesus showed up and called him to go.

“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, lord?’ Saul asked. And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” (Acts 9:3-6)

While Jesus called the unbeliever Saul, God spoke to a believer in Damascus.

“Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, ‘Ananias!’ ‘Yes, Lord!’ he replied. The Lord said, ‘Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.’ ‘But Lord,’ exclaimed Ananias, ‘I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.’ But the Lord said, ‘Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.’” (Acts 9:10-16)

The instruction is the same: go. God has called an unbeliever and a believer and what do they have in common? They both went. Both men obeyed God’s command to go.

“Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.” (Acts 9:8-9)

“So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.” (Acts 9:17-19)

When God calls, we need to answer. When He tells us to go, we need to obey. God can call you to go wherever God chooses. It may not be to a far off country—God might call you to walk across the street. God might call you to start an online ministry. God might call you to volunteer at your church. When He calls, we need to answer and when He says go, we need to go. We see the unbeliever, Saul, obey God’s command to go. We see Ananias, even after questioning at first, go to this man who was an enemy of the church and lay hands on him, pray for him, and baptize him. As Christians, we are called to go. Jesus final command to His followers was to go and make disciples. Where that command may take us, only God knows. It is our responsibility to listen and obey.

“‘You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’” (Matthew 5:14-16)

If you have accepted Jesus’ payment for your sins and you have confessed and repented of your sins, then it is time to go. Go where God leads you, go where He calls you. Don’t keep this Good News for yourself, don’t put your light under a basket—shine so that everyone can see. Go.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed