“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1 NIV)

    No, I haven’t. I haven’t heard Him with my own two ears. I haven’t seen Him with my own two eyes. I haven’t touched Him with my own two hands. But John did. And I take John at his word. He saw, heard, and touched the Word. This I believe. And so, I believe in the One who made John — and everyone, and everything, else.

    Understand, John was a witness. Thus, his life’s purpose was clear — to “proclaim.” I am a witness of his testimony. Thus, my life’s purpose is clear. I must “proclaim.” That’s what church is all about, isn’t it? It’s not about me; it’s about Him! It’s not about you; it’s about Him! It’s all about Him. He is our mission.

    However, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the mission. Even us church folks can lose sight of it. The calendar, the budget, the protocol, the program can so easily get clogged with a multitude of “good things” which only serve to obscure our view of Him who is our mission. That’s true of the church as a whole, because it’s also true of the individuals who make up the church. All sorts of things clamor for our attention and, if allowed, will certainly dominate our life and will become our unintended mission. Life will be “full” — just not full of Him.

    You see, keeping the mission in focus is a mission in itself.

    How do we regain that focus? We must be willing to sell off all our jewels of small price for the one pearl of great price. I — you — we need to hear afresh the encouragement:

”...continue in Him...” (1 John 2:28 NIV)

Keeping the mission in focus is a mission in itself.

    The Church’s mission is not primarily that of “serving the saved.” It’s mission is primarily that of “serving the Savior” by sharing Him with and proclaiming Him to people who don’t yet know Him. That must also mean that our mission invloves unceasing prayer for more laborers to be sent into the vineyard, not for management of the vineyard for the vineyard’s sake, but that more fruit might be borne for the Master of the vineyard.

    The Church’s mission to proclaim means that Christians everywhere must make every effort to make certain that every person hears the testimony about Jesus Christ. The World Bible School slogan should be on our heart: “Every person has more need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ once, than any person has to hear it twice.” And those of us who have heard it twice — and twice times ten thousand even — must never, never forget to share it with those who haven’t heard it.

    Yes, keeping the mission in focus is a mission it itself, but it’s the greatest mission on earth.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.” (1 John 3:16 NIV)

    If you live in the life in the church long enough, the time will likely come when you find yourself deeply discouraged over how busy your life and your church’s life have become, while at the same time you seem to be doing so little that is enduring and making an eternal difference. When that day comes, don’t leave the Church. Don’t jettison your faith. Stay and work like leaven for the Church to recover a vision of it’s ultimate mission. Do that by remembering your own purpose as a true witness. Kneel before Him and rid yourself of anything in the way of Him. Continue in Him. Proclaim Him. And by all means...

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21 NIV)

    For it’s all about Him.

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Title: "It's About Him!"
Author: David Smith
Publication Date: May 25, 2001

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