If you enter a public building or bus and see an inscription that reads: NO PREACHING HERE, what would you do?
To an average believer of this age, there are two possible responses we may expect. First, the inscription makes no difference to him because he has not preached to anyone even in places where preaching was not prohibited. For those who have made it a habit of preaching to unbelievers wherever they are, the inscription may be powerful enough to shut their bowels of mercy. But if any of the early disciples had encountered such an inscription, what would they have done?
The answer is not farfetched. They experienced a similar thing and the verses of scripture below sheds more light on their attitude.
“The chief priest questioned them. He said, “We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus’ name when you teach. Yet, you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teachings … Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people.” Acts 5:27-29 (GW)
Is this not a sharp contrast with what we are doing today? Beloved, what has happened to us? In a bid to appear as “responsible” citizens or “professional” employees, we are disobeying God’s commandment. And quite regrettable, if after several years we hear that one of our former colleagues or friends who used to be an unbeliever is now dead, we say things like: Well, only God knows what happened in his last minute, he may have given his life to Christ.
Why are we leaving the choice of where unbelievers will spend eternity to fate at their last minute when we could have influenced it with faith during our last meeting with them?
“No preaching here” is not the same as “no chatting here”. Perhaps if we were willing to obey God at all cost, we could have seen other means and opportunities to communicate the gospel. That’s what happened to Peter and other apostles. An Angel had to set them free from prison to enable them continue the good work. It is commonly said that when the mind is willing, there are a thousand ways; but when the mind is unwilling, there are a thousand excuses. Are you willing to obey God’s commandment in Matt. 28:19 (MSG) – Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life? Are you merely wishing for a last minute miracle of salvation for those around you when you could have been an instrument of a life changing miracle at your last meeting with them?
– tope aladenusi