Why missions? Because we want others to know
I have three great passions: I love my Savior, I love my family, and I love Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Unfortunately, it is not always in that order.
I was at the church one afternoon helping with a festival for our children’s ministry. I overheard a conversation of someone saying that she had never had a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut. I was astounded. So, I started sharing with her the good news of Krispy Kreme. She didn’t seem impressed. So I kept pressing the issue. These are not ordinary doughnuts. A hot Krispy Kreme is nothing like the cold ones you buy at the grocery store. I went on to inform her that if she went by Krispy Kreme as soon as the festival was over, she could get a hot one because I just happen to know that they are hot from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. I was prepared to drive her there myself if need be.
Why was I so pushy? Because I knew she would like it. I had no doubt that if she ever tasted it, she would enjoy it.
C.S. Lewis, in “Reflections on the Psalms,” observes, whenever we enjoy something, we spontaneously urge others to join us in praising it. You have a baby or a grandchild, and you show off their pictures to a friend and say, “Isn’t she lovely?” When you read a good book, or eat at a good restaurant, you tell others about it. Lewis observed that our joy of something is magnified by inviting others to enjoy it as well.
C.S. Lewis, in “Reflections on the Psalms,” observes, whenever we enjoy something, we spontaneously urge others to join us in praising it.
When we remember how deep the Father’s love is for us that we should be called children of God, when we remember that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, when our hearts are gripped by the truth that we have earned hell but in Christ, we have received adoption as children of the living God, missions becomes less of a duty and more of a delight. As the Puritan Thomas Manton said, “The more you believe God to be gracious, the more you will want to please Him.” The more you believe that God delights in you, the more you will want to share His love with others.
When Jonas Salk developed the vaccine for polio, the famous newscaster, Edward R. Murrow, asked, “Who owns the patent on this vaccine?” Salk replied, “Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent.” He then paused and said, “Could you patent the sun?”
Just as there is no life without the sun, there is no life without the Son. The gospel is far more precious than the life-saving polio vaccine. If that is so, why would we keep it to ourselves? Why not share this joy with others?
That is what missions is. It is inviting the people of the world—people from every tribe, nation, and tongue—to come and taste the sweetness of the gospel and to share in the life-giving love of Jesus. What could be more delightful than that?
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Mark Bates
Mark Bates is MTW's senior director of Missions Engagement. Mark has a B.A. in Greek from Bryan College and a master's degree from RTS. He served as youth and singles pastor at Orangewood PCA, and founded University Presbyterian Church in Orlando. From 2007-2021, Mark served as senior pastor of Village Seven PCA in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mark and his wife, Tricia, have three daughters.
