Behold and Worldwide Ministry

By Li Xiu-quan

Jesus said: "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)

From this verse we see that there was a big difference between Jesus' thinking and that of his disciples. The disciples thought it was still too early and that they could afford to wait for another four months. Jesus, however, said that time was up and now was the time to work. Different mindsets brought about different responses and the cause of the difference in mindset was the word look. Jesus wasn't using the ordinary word for look. It was behold.

Whenever the word behold appears in the Bible, there is something important and serious involved. When we behold a person, an event or a thing, we do not simply glance at it, we do not take it lightly. Instead, we pay close attention and examine it. For this reason, the word behold implies understanding, penetration and analysis, and this further implies a certain attitude, a certain psychology and a certain action to follow.

A Christian who is willing to behold cannot remain indifferent.

A Christian who is willing to behold is surely one who obeys the Lord's will and works hard in the Lord's service.

As we enter the 21^st century and as the Lord's Second Coming gets closer, where are we to fix our gaze? And where is the altar of sacrifice for modern Christians?

Let us come together and behold:

1. Behold the throne of Christ! Our risen Lord proclaimed: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt. 28:18-20) The Lord also said, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Mt. 24:14)

With this Great Commission from a glorified Christ, how can we, as Christians enjoying the abundance of the Lord's grace, not respond like Isaiah past days, "Here I am. Send me"?

2. Behold, the field of the world! Of a 6 billion world population, only 1.7 billion claim to be Christians. In other words, two-thirds of the world's population have yet to know the true God. They are outside the door of salvation. Their lives are meaningless and they have no eternal hope. And every single moment and in every single place they are rushing onwards to destruction . Who is there to care for them? Who is to take the responsibility of spreading the Gospel among them?

As children of the Lord, how can we remain indifferent when souls are being lost worldwide?

3. Behold, the history of the church! Over the two thousand years of church history beginning from Paul the great missionary of the first century, the church has followed the Lord's commission by continually spreading the Gospel. Full of touching stories, the history of missions has been written, page after page, in the sweat, blood and tears of missionaries. Following the religious reforms of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the churches of the west became even more actively involved in worldwide mission outreach.

In 1807, Dr. Morrison of Great Britain came to China as a missionary. With great difficulty he completed the task of translating the Bible into Chinese. He also prepared an English-Chinese dictionary for the Chinese. In 1865, Dr. Hudson Taylor and his family crossed the oceans to China and founded a church, through which he brought the Gospel into the impoverished regions of inland China. The great achievements of western missionaries in China should not be underestimated. And it was their sacrifice that made it possible for us to belong to the Lord's kingdom, to enter His family and to share in His grace.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. The Chinese churches now have a history of almost two hundred years. In terms of worldwide ministry, however, we are still in the position of receivers. But when will Chinese churches truly begin to give?

But we do thank the Lord that since the end of the 20^th century, the Holy Spirit has started to work in various Chinese churches and the Chinese train of worldwide missionary endeavour has finally started to roll.

Historians tell us that the 19^th century was primarily the age of British missions, the 20^th century was mainly missionaries from North America and that the 21^st century should be the age of Chinese missions. How we yearn for Chinese Christians to step up to take on the challenge of history!

4. Behold, objective realities! It is said that wherever there is ocean there are Chinese. One hundred years ago, the overseas Chinese were mainly laborers working in railroad construction. But how different they appear in today's world ! Most of the overseas Chinese are now respected scientists, engineers, technicians, and experts in agriculture or economy. It is no wonder an African church leader told us when we were in Africa in 1998, "In the past, Chinese people came to Africa to help us build bridges and roads, and for that we were very thankful. But now we welcome you to send missionaries to help us build spiritual bridges and spiritual roads." The fact is that today's Chinese are like Esther in the Old Testament. We possess "royal status". Can it be a mere coincidence that the Lord has so blessed us?

5. Behold, our personal situations! It is a great privilege to live in the 21^st century. According to world medical research, in 1900 the average life span of a man was 42. When we were chiildren, we thought that a 50-year-old was extremely old. Times have changed. In the 21^st century, due to medical advancement, improved living conditions and increased exercise, our average life span has not only increased significantly but most of us enjoy a much healthier life. A 60-year-old is now considered a middle-aged man full of wisdom.

What is the point of leading longer and healthier lives? How should we invest the rest of our lives in this world in the most significant places, places with eternal value?

If we are willing to behold and if we are willing to re-evaluate ourselves, we will surely want to throw ourselves into the task of worldwide mission !

The author is a coworker in Campus Evangelical Fellowship in the United States.