How We Fit Into God's Plan

Being missional is more than just the lastest buzz word and craze in Christianity. It is at the very heartbeat of God. God is on a mission to fix what was broken in the Garden of Eden. God makes it clear that in order to be in His presence you must be pure and spotless (holy). That is to say you can't make any mistakes in thoughts, words, or deeds (you can't sin)...that you must obey all of God's commands all of the time.

Now we know that is an impossible task, even the atheist will confess that we all make mistakes, so how is God going to fix what was broken? Enter His Son, Jesus.

About 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote:

"I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:10 ESV)

This verse predicts that God will make someone (Christ) the way to salvation. Jesus testifies twice to this very thing, once in John 8:12 (ESV) "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." and in John 9:5 when He healed the blind man. "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (ESV)

Not only that, but when the angel appeared to Joseph in Matthew 1, he told Joseph that Mary "will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for will save his people from their sins." (1:21 ESV)

God has made a way to fix what was broken in the Garden of Eden, He name is Jesus. But God's mission has not stopped there, in some respects it has just begun. The second part of Isaiah 49:10 is just as important as the first: "that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." He needs a way to distribute His missional story and this is where we come into the picture. Now, He can accomplish his mission any way He wants, but He as chosen people like you and me to distribute the story through word (proclaiming the Good News) and deed (loving and serving others as ourselves).

We are a vital part of how God is going to redeem His people. As we look at our cities today and recognize that many of the younger generations don't know a thing about the God of the Bible, we have to think like missionaries in order to engage them. In many ways that starts off by getting to know them and their concerns, finding common interests, and building friendships before bringing up anything spiritual. At some point, God will have laid the ground to have a honest and forthright discussion about the importance of Jesus in many of those relationships. Remember, He is on a mission to spread His salvation "to the end of the earth" and He will not rest until He accomplishes His mission.

Salvation To The Ends of the Earth

Why is Morningside so intent about being missional? Because God is intent about being missional as He makes it unmistakably clear in a prophesy about His Son in Isaiah 49:10.

"I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (ESV)

"I will make you" is a clear promise of God's intent to reach the far corners of the earth with the Good News. Not only that but when we look at Acts 1:8 as Jesus charges his disciples,

"...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (ESV)

we begin to see God's progressive revelation and His ultimate plan. Today, we are a part of this plan, witnessing the word and deed of His Good News in each of our communities. May we keep in mind that we are a small part of the greater plan who will work together to accomplish the plan; that by our love and tolerance of outsiders (think woman at the well) the light of Jesus will drown out the darkness in our cities; and that people will see our hearts transformed and healed, thus giving them hope that theirs may as well.