An Arabian sultan was surprised by Western missionaries who had come to his kingdom to build schools, roads, and health centers instead of staying in their prosperous home societies. When he asked if they did this for a place in heaven, they answered no - they were obeying Jesus's command to preach salvation to all, since He had already earned heaven for them through His death on the cross. The document discusses how Jesus provided everything needed for salvation and entrance into heaven through His crucifixion, and that Christians should appreciate this by preaching Christ to sinners as the missionaries did.

1. All Things Are Ready
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17).
The potentate of an Arabian kingdom was stunned by a group of Western
missionaries he had invited to a feast. The sultan wanted to know why these
believers in Jesus Christ had abandoned their prosperous society back home to
come to the desert. They were building missionary schools, roads and health
centers for his people. In the process, these Christians exposed themselves to
infections that sometimes proved fatal. He asked if they did all these in order
to secure a place in heaven. “No,” was the answer that jolted the Arabian ruler.
“We are doing all these to show our appreciation to our Lord Jesus Christ who
died for our salvation. He has earned heaven for us through His sacrificial
death on the cross at Calvary. And He says we must go and preach to all
creatures about the salvation He has brought, so that no one would perish in
sin. We obey that commandment as His faithful servants…. Our works can’t earn us
heaven; only faith in Him, repentance from sin and obedience to what He says”.
This is a thorough understanding of the salvation plan of God. Everything we
need to enter into the Kingdom of heaven hereafter was provided by Jesus Christ
when He was crucified. No act of man could do it. It is for him to submit to the
conditions needed for the appropriation of the benefits of Calvary. We
appreciate God for Calvary when we obey and have faith in Him. We honour Him
when we resist temptation and shun sin. We put Satan and his agents to shame
when we preach Christ to sinners who are under the yoke of the powers of
darkness. The genuine Christian knows that Jesus has made all “things …ready”
for him in heaven. So, like the missionaries in Arabia, today’s believer must
appreciate God for making heaven ready for Him by going to the uttermost parts
of the world to preach Jesus.
Thought for the day: There is ‘a woe’ awaiting believers who refuse to preach
the gospel.
Bible Reading in one Year: 1 KINGS 9 - 10
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