“For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47 NKJV
My mom passed from this life into eternity on January 13, 2021. Christ was her only hope in life and in death. Our kids led the music at Grandma’s funeral which included the glorious anthem of praise, Living Hope. Since God hardwired our hearts for hope, mankind’s quest for a confident expectation of future good charts the direction of our lives. Just as Mom’s grandkids proclaimed, this hope is found in none other than the person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. May we therefore take heed to ourselves and understand that advancing hope to the ends of the earth begins at home with biblical family life, is anchored in the local church as the pillar and ground of the truth, and deliberately engages culture with salt and light by raising the banner of Christ among all nations worldwide to the praise of His glory.
1. Begins at Home with Biblical Family Life – God designed families to be built upon the bedrock foundation of marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and woman whose children are a stewardship that calls for rigorous discipleship in the biblical Christian worldview. The daily routine and weekly rhythm of intentional family life is characterized by cultivating spiritual disciplines, prioritizing mealtimes, and championing corporate worship at church any given Sunday. Such practices as systematic Bible reading of the entirety of Scripture, prayer journaling, breaking bread together in table fellowship, and worshipping God both privately through family worship and publicly through faithful church attendance are essential to advancing hope to the ends of the earth.
2. Anchored in Church as Pillar & Ground of the Truth – Strong local churches reflect the vitality of the home and are central to advancing hope to the ends of the earth through the worship of God among all nations worldwide as the pillar and ground of doctrinal truth in their respective communities. Holding forth the Word of life through resolute conviction, robust declaration, and responsible application is a matter of serious urgency in these assemblies. In contrast to the spirit of the age, churches must advance hope to the ends of the earth by proclaiming a biblical and Pauline gospel of hope in Christ alone as the Answer to the hopeless condition of the world.
3. Engaging Culture with Salt & Light – Biblical Christianity is superior to every worldview and the exclusive truth claims of Christ are rooted in the absolute authority of God’s Word. Advancing hope to the ends of the earth by raising the banner of Christ on every high hill and remote outpost in the regions beyond where Christ is not named strikes to the heart of missional urgency. Reaching souls for Christ in evangelism fuels the need for relational investment as they are established in the faith and gathered together in churches planted in communities for the worship of Him who alone is Living Hope to the ends of the earth.
