It.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011
It. One of the universal games of children is “Tag.” Do you remember it? One person would be “it”, while everyone else tried to avoid being “tagged” by them. There was usually always a “base” and if you were touching it you couldn’t become “it”, but were safe from being “tagged.” One by one, the opportunity to be “it” would rotate among the kids playing. If you’re experience was ever anything like mine, however, there were always at least a couple of kids that never were tagged while playing.
Journey with me almost 2,000 years back in history. Jesus is gathered around with His 12 closest friends, called His disciples. He’s teaching them about what is going to happen to Him in the not too distant future. He’s talking about the sacrifice for sin, and teaching them why it’s necessary that He be that sacrifice. He’s telling them that when He’s gone away, it will be their turn to carry His message. He looks at them and, in effect, says, “Tag – you’re it.”
Fast forward a few years. Jesus has ascended back to heaven. Now the disciples are spreading His gospel to the ends of the earth, but it’s not coming without its tribulations. A number of them have been arrested already on numerous occasions. Many of them have been beaten, and even lost their possessions, a number of them even being executed already. They continue to carry the Gospel, in spite of all the pain and sacrifice it costs them. Many come to know Christ as the result of their preaching. They pass the torch – “tag.”
Travel farther ahead into what is now history to us. Believers are being hunted and captured for owning copies of Scripture. The Bible becomes so illegal that many Christians are choosing to memorize it instead of carry a copy of it on them. And so verse by verse, book by book, from Genesis to Revelation, they commit God’s Word to memory, hiding it in their heart. They are doing this so they can continue to pass it down to others who need to hear the message of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for their sin. They carry the torch, until the day comes for them to pass it on…”tag.”
Now we’re in the early days of America. Great men willingly leave the comforts of their homes and families to climb aboard the backs of horses and buggies to roam the wilderness countryside as circuit riding preachers. They travel night and day, Bible in one hand and horse reins in the other, preaching Jesus and His Word every time they encounter someone that will listen. Great revivals take place in remote places and large cities. As more and more come to Christ, the torch is passed, yet again…”tag.”
And we’re back to today. I don’t know who passed the Gospel message on to you, but I know that faithful grandparents and parents passed it to me. I was raised hearing about Jesus, and for that I’m thankful. Regardless of who did or didn’t tell you about Him growing up, you’re reading about Him now. Your excuse of ignorance is now abolished, if it weren’t before. You’re being told, as you read these words, that God loves you and the rest of the world, and wants the message of His Son’s death on Calvary to be proclaimed to all men, everywhere. It’s not going to take the sacrifice that it took those early Christians, at least in the majority of cases in our land. Nevertheless, your job – your responsibility – is clear. Consider the torch passed. “Tag” – you’re it.



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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