If the News Is Not Delivered
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 10:13–15
In January of 1815, a massive British force was bearing down on the city of New Orleans. The Americans, under General Andrew Jackson, dug into their defenses and did their best to prepare for what would be the final battle of the War of 1812. The Americans won an overwhelming victory, which saw one third of the entire British force either killed, wounded, or captured. The victory made Andrew Jackson a national hero, paving the way for his later election as president of the United States.
The most unusual feature of the Battle of New Orleans was not the lopsided outcome, but that it was fought after the peace treaty to end the war had already been signed. On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent had been signed in Paris, which laid out the terms for the end of the war. If news had been able to travel more swiftly in those days, the battle would never have been fought at all—and hundreds of lives would have been spared.
Those of us who have trusted Jesus as Saviour receive, along with our salvation, a great responsibility. We are God’s plan to take the message of salvation to a lost and dying world. We are their only hope. There is no fallback plan. If the news does not reach them in time, they will die in their sins. The only way they can hear is if we tell them.
Romans 10:13–15
In January of 1815, a massive British force was bearing down on the city of New Orleans. The Americans, under General Andrew Jackson, dug into their defenses and did their best to prepare for what would be the final battle of the War of 1812. The Americans won an overwhelming victory, which saw one third of the entire British force either killed, wounded, or captured. The victory made Andrew Jackson a national hero, paving the way for his later election as president of the United States.
The most unusual feature of the Battle of New Orleans was not the lopsided outcome, but that it was fought after the peace treaty to end the war had already been signed. On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent had been signed in Paris, which laid out the terms for the end of the war. If news had been able to travel more swiftly in those days, the battle would never have been fought at all—and hundreds of lives would have been spared.
Those of us who have trusted Jesus as Saviour receive, along with our salvation, a great responsibility. We are God’s plan to take the message of salvation to a lost and dying world. We are their only hope. There is no fallback plan. If the news does not reach them in time, they will die in their sins. The only way they can hear is if we tell them.
Today’s Growth Principle:
We must deliver the Good News to those who have never heard it, or it will not help them.
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