To the ends of the earth

To the Ends of the Earth

Indeed He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be my salvation to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6

When Paul preached the gospel for the Gentiles in Antioch, Pisidia, he quoted this verse from Isaiah. In Acts 13:47 he says, “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.’ ” The promise in Isaiah 49:6 not only assures that the Messiah will restore Israel, but it also ensures that the light of His glory will reach all the Gentiles, to the ends of the earth.

This promise was not fulfilled until Jesus came. In the Scriptures Paul immediately saw that this was God’s heart for all people, not only for a single nation. Paul understood that this promise pertained to the Messiah, but he also understood that it concerned him, as well. “For so the Lord has commanded us.” Through us the Messiah will reach the ends of the earth. This means that we need to reach all people, in every nation, to the ends of the earth.

We cannot settle for less. Someone once said, “Why should we in this society hear the gospel twice when there are people who have not even heard it once?” Jesus came from heaven, sent as an ambassador, as a missionary, as an apostle, which means sent one, because He wanted to send us. Where does He want to send us? To no less than the entire world. He wants to send us to every culture, not just one. “It is too small a thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob.” Too often we settle for less, but God has much more for us. The whole world belongs to us.


PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, that You came so the light could reach the whole world. Use me to spread the light to more people in more places than ever before. In Jesus’ name. Amen.