To hell with the world; just give me a latte`

Jesus chose “ignorant" and "unlearned” men to change the world for His glory (Acts 4). They could read and write, but they were common laborers – people who knew how to put in an honest day’s work but had no influence or societal standing.

So it was a shock to the religious leaders of the day that Peter and John would be bold enough to confront them on matters of religion. In fact, Acts 4 says the leaders were practically spellbound when they heard convincing and powerful arguments from Peter and John. But they realized these men had been with Jesus because they spoke and acted just like Him, preaching the Gospel and healing the sick in spite of the resistance of the authorities who persecuted them.

Sin reigned in the hearts of both the Jewish and Roman leaders of that day, just as it does in many of today’s authority figures. That's why John the Baptist was beheaded: Herod and Herodias couldn’t stand to be told the Truth of God about their adulterous and Godless lives (Matt 14, Mark 6). These were leaders of an earthly kingdom whose actions and words affected multitudes of people, releasing license to sin into their sphere of influence.

When people are under this kind of authority they are led away from God and all hell breaks loose from the top down. The Old Testament is full of examples of this and the resulting effects are listed in Deuteronomy 28. But in the dire straits of Peter and John’s days, a remnant of common, “ignorant” and “unlearned” men fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel and revealed the glory of God. They were persecuted, tortured, and killed for His sake because they refused to have their mouths closed and settle for a Godless and sinful status quo which leads people to hell.

This is same state of our world today: leaders all over the earth are working diligently to enact laws which are against the Holy Word of God, effectively releasing the power of satan over their kingdoms in the name of equality and freedom. Their hearts are hardened, their minds are darkened and they are ignorant of the fact that they are bringing the fierce rod of judgment upon themselves and the people they lead. In the end they will bear the consequences of their folly.

But we are the remnant and the light, and our calling is to set self aside and boldly proclaim the Gospel of God’s love and salvation. Now is not the time to shrink back in fear - it’s the time to band together and boldly go forward with the banner of the Gospel held high in our words and actions. We cannot sit back and sip our lattes and cappuccinos while the world is going to hell in a hand-basket! It’s time to roll up our sleeves and completely commit ourselves to a selfless life of proclaiming the Gospel in thought, word and deed. The eternal state of countless multitudes may be on our hands if we are silent at this hour.

What is your part in boldly, confidently and faithfully proclaiming this Word of life to a dying world? Are you willing to wisely use every venue presented to bring life where sin, darkness and death abound?

“So don't throw away your confidence and trust in God, which has a great reward. For you need to endure until the end, so that after you have done God's will you may receive what is promised. In a very little while the Coming One will come and He will not delay – His timing is perfect. But those who are righteous will faithfully and boldly press forward, refusing to draw back in fear – this gives God great pleasure. And you are not the kind to draw back and be destroyed by fear from the enemy, you are those who walk in faith and bring life to a dying world” (Heb 10:35-39 paraphrased).