The urgency of evangelism

Pastor Mike Novotny

One afternoon I was staring at the screen of my laptop, trying to come up with a sermon theme for an upcoming message on evangelism. What would capture the urgency of Jesus’ mission for Christians to spread the good news and not let the fear of people’s reactions get in the way? Then I heard it—ticktock. My office clock was counting loudly the passing seconds—ticktock. That sound, that one little word, grabbed my heart.

Because every person you know and love is like that clock. Their lives are ticking down to their last second, their final breath. Even before that moment, your relationship with them is ticking down to the final conversation. Picture an hourglass over every head you see today, as the sands of life fall closer to their final hour. While everyone has an eternity ahead of them, there is a limited time to hear the good news about Jesus so that eternity is filled with happiness.

I’m not suggesting you sprint through the streets and scream at everyone: “Do you believe in Jesus?!” But please remember the window of opportunity God has given you to bring Jesus to them. Paul writes, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5).

There’s a fancy phrase I learned growing up to summarize that idea. I’ve heard that limited time to trust in Christ is called our “time of grace.”

Sounds important enough to name a ministry after it, doesn’t it?