The Power of OneSample

The 21st century will be the most volatile in history. If we are going to reach everyone on Earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must do so amid the drama and trauma of our time.

In Matthew 24, Jesus predicted days of extreme volatility at the end of the age. He spoke of an environment of deception, war, rumors of war, nation rising against nation, and kingdom rising against kingdom. He warned that there would be natural disasters and intense persecution, and many who were once faithful would fall away from the faith. Yet, Jesus promised, “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.” (24:14)

The environment described in Matthew 24 is now our 21st-century reality. Chaos surrounds us.

Wars are raging in parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East; Christian brothers and sisters around the world are facing intense and growing persecution; gun violence is at an all-time high in the West; natural disasters are increasing; corrupt politics are damaging nations; and ungodly agendas tear at the family unit. In the age of mass media, it is common for polarizing outlooks, discord, misinformation, and deceit to run rampant. Truth and morality have become relative, and many—even within the church—have been swept away by false doctrine. And with rapid change during the last century, we find ourselves in unprecedented times in which society is evolving at lightning speed.

We are getting battered by some of the most turbulent times in history, but still, God’s call remains. Like the prophet Isaiah who received his call to ministry as recorded in Isaiah 6, we are also called during crisis. Isaiah did not shrink back or allow fear to restrain him but rather accepted the challenge. Amid the drama and trauma of his day, and even through his weaknesses, he became a bearer of good news.

In Acts 1 and 2, Luke shares an account of the days following Jesus’s ascension to heaven and the birth of the church. The disciples, afraid and scattered after Jesus’s crucifixion, were huddled together, praying in the upper room in Jerusalem. The world outside their door was a storm of hostility and uncertainty. Yet, these ordinary men and women waited with anticipation of Jesus’s promise of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)

As they waited, they cried out in prayer for strength to face the future. The world was a dangerous, volatile place, and they would need spiritual power to fulfill Jesus’ command to reach the nations. The promise of Jesus would be realized, and when the Holy Spirit came on them, they would be witnesses to the ends of the Earth. The Holy Spirit transformed them into bold witnesses, and they were empowered to reach and change the world.

Fast forward approximately two thousand years, and here we are today with new drama and trauma surrounding us. The volatility and moral emptiness of our age have prepared the hearts of billions for the good news we are called to share. Everyone needs this message, and we are called to share it.