THIS IS YOUR PURPOSE

By Akin Ojumu

For His final instructions to His disciples on Mount Olives 2,000 years ago, Jesus commanded them to go to the farthest reaches of the world and reproduce themselves.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Having been exalted above all things, and on the basis of the absolute sovereign authority that YAHWEH has granted Him, the resurrected Christ sent His disciples out to all the nations of the world to make copies of themselves.

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15).

Known as the Great Commission, the disciples were told to carry out this act of spiritual reproduction simply by preaching the Gospel. Jesus didn’t send them to go and preach human philosophy. What they heard wasn’t that they should go and teach business techniques, investment strategies or leadership skills. The directive they were given was that they should teach others what He commanded them.

Sadly, in the cacophonic din of the distractions Satan has preoccupied contemporary Church with, Jesus’s command has been largely drowned out. In these Last Days, and as we approach the end of human history, Christians all over are in a free fall into Satan’s rabbit hole chasing the adversary’s red herring.

Instead of proclaiming the Gospel as instructed by the Lord, the Church has abandoned its primary assignment and has become consumed with other kinds of messages. Having been convinced by Satan that the Gospel has lost its relevance and efficacy, the Church has jettisoned the Good News for something else entirely.

Christian ministers everywhere have bought the lie that the Gospel is boring and not appealing to the modern world. Consciously and unconsciously, they tell themselves, “Nobody wants to hear about some Jewish holy man crucified on a wooden cross thousands of years ago.”

Consequently, they reinvent the Gospel to their own liking, turning it into something they think is more relatable to this generation. This Gospel makeover takes several forms and occurs in various degrees. While some are subtle embellishments and minor refinements, others are flagrant fabrications and blatant distortions.

What you find bandied about as the “Gospel” these days is a dangerous mixture of eastern mystic religious practices, new age philosophies, neo-Gnostic concepts, secular humanism, human psychology, and all whatnot. This syncretic concoction of strange beliefs and demonic ideas labeled the “Gospel” is what pastors of many churches serve to their undiscerning and beleaguered audience.

Whereas we know that the slightest deviation from God’s truth is a damning lie, these men of God succeed in making their followers believe their manufactured gospel by giving them the illusion of knowing God. They go on to amass huge following by peddling to the masses false assurance of salvation and spurious promise of eternal security.

Nevertheless, the Gospel is not about anyone’s personal testimony. And it isn’t about our trials and tribulations. Jesus didn’t send His disciples to go and talk about themselves and their exploits. The Great Commission is most certainly not about politics or socio-cultural issues of our day. The true Gospel is all about Jesus Christ. It is the Euaggelion, i.e., the Good News, about the birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the Messiah.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

Transformation comes only in the declaration of the name of Jesus. Only the true Gospel can regenerate degenerate hearts. The Holy Spirit’s power to save resides in nothing else but in the proclamation of the Gospel. 

The Great Commission is God’s supreme mandate to all Believers. This is God’s will for the Church and it’s the pre-eminent calling of all Christians. For those looking for their purpose in life, this is it; you need not look any further.

Your calling and ultimate assignment in this world is to proclaim the Gospel. It’s for this reason you were born again. On the day you stand before the Judgement Seat of God, your eternal destiny will be determined on the account of your commitment to the Great Commission.