The Gospel to All the World in This Generation
By A. G. Daniells
THERE is a deep conviction in the hearts of many devout missionary workers in both home and foreign fields that it is the duty of the Christian church to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all the world in this generation. This conviction is based upon the teaching of the Scriptures and the marvelous providences of God during the last century. God so loved the world, the whole world, that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. After Jesus had died for the world, He said to His disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Mark 16: 15, 20. The Gospel is God's message of salvation to a lost world which Christ died to save. The church is God's chosen agency to tell His Gospel of love to the world. Therefore it is the duty of the church to proclaim the Gospel to all the world. This is an obligation that the greatest and truest Christians of all ages have recognized. St. Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, declared: "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise." And John Wesley, one of the greatest of modern evangelists, often said, "The world is my parish." But to-day there is more than a recognition of this general truth. A deep conviction has fastened upon the hearts of many earnest, intelligent Christian workers that the Gospel should be preached to the whole world before the generation now living shall have passed away. For one, I believe that this conviction is born from above, for both the Scriptures and the providences of God call for it. This makes it not only a possibility but also a certainty. When Jesus had finished His work on earth, and was about to ascend to heaven, He gave His followers the most solemn promise that He would come again. The disciples believed this promise, and asked, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" In His reply the Master pointed to a number of sure evidences of His speedy return. One was this: "This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24: 14. From this it is plain that the generation that shall see the return of Christ to the world shall witness the proclamation of the Gospel to all the nations of the world then living. In the revelation given to John on the Isle of Patmos, he was given a view of this work in process of fulfilment. He says: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. . . . And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle." To-day every sign recorded in the Scriptures concerning the approaching end of the world has either been fulfilled or is in process of fulfilment. One of these is the proclamation of the Gospel to all the world. And now that the time has come for this to be done, the conviction is laying hold of thousands of earnest Christians that it can and should be done. For a full century the providences of God have been shaping affairs and preparing the way for this work to be done at this time. One hundred years ago men began to explore every "nook and corner" of the globe as never before in the history of the world. One hundred years ago men began to discover nature's forces and invent facilities for effective, universal transmission of thought, and for rapid world-wide travel such as had never been known before. One hundred years ago the Christian church began a world-wide missionary campaign such as had not been carried on since apostolic times. To-day every country and every inhabited island of the globe is well-known to the ordinary reader. All parts of the world are brought into close touch by the ocean cables, the printing-press, and the railway and steamship lines. The present is an era of general financial prosperity unknown in any past generation. It certainly seems as tho the providence of God had marshaled all the interests and facilities in the world which are necessary to proclaim the Gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in this generation. Surely what the Scriptures demand and God's providences prepare for will be done. It can not fail. What is now needed is a seeing, believing, acting church. The fatal malady that afflicted the church at the first advent was their blindness. Their eyes were closed so that they failed to see the fulfilment of the Old Testament Scriptures. This filled their hearts with unbelief that led them to reject the work God called them to do. But to some Jesus said: "Blessed are your eyes, for they see." To them He revealed His purposes and committed His work. Thank God, to-day some of His followers see the marvelous opportunities for world-wide evangelization. Their hearts burn with the desire to do the work now required to prepare all men to meet their God. They are putting forth the best efforts of self-sacrificing service of which they are capable, and God is blessing their labors. The Gospel is going to all the world. It will be heard by every kindred and tribe during this generation. And then the end will come.