Friday, March 8, 2002
Nathan Chapman was the first American soldier killed by hostile fire in Afghanistan. He was one of America's elite Green Berets, on a strategic mission in dangerous territory when he died. I had a chance to watch some of the memorial service in his honor. The chapel was crowded with grim-faced Special Forces soldiers and many who loved this man. He had been there, serving his country, in some of the most difficult assignments of the last decade, including Panama and Haiti and Afghanistan. During the service, he was greatly praised by those who knew him, including references to the fact that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. Several of them cited Nathan Chapman's personal motto - one he lived by volunteering to go where he felt he could make the greatest difference. His motto was only five words but still very challenging: "Stand up and do something!"
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Stand Up and Do Something."
This authentic American hero issued a challenge to all of us with those words - don't be content to just be a spectator. There's too much to do. Get in the game! It's the kind of challenge that comes from the One who is Commander-in-Chief for every follower of Jesus Christ. Except God puts it in the form of a bold question in our word for today from the Word of God.
In Isaiah 6:8, the prophet says, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' He said, 'Go and tell this people...'" Well, apparently, things were pretty much the same with God's ancient people as they are with His people today - there were lots of people willing to sit and watch, but not many who were willing to go and tell.
The Lord has so much work to do - in your church, in your community, in the lives of people who don't know Jesus died for them, among the hurting, the hungry, and the helpless. But as He surveys all the massive needs in our broken and sinful world, He cries out today as He did in Isaiah's day - "Whom shall I send? Who will go for Me?" Perhaps people like you and me are God's only plan for getting His work done on this planet. But too many of us are only willing to be spiritual consumers - taking all the blessing we can get - but we don't want to be spiritual producers - getting involved, taking responsibility, making a real difference. In Nathan Chapman's words - stand up and do something!
Jesus has all the fans He needs - Christians who are willing to sit in the stands, cheer for His cause, watch the show, occasionally criticize those who are actually in the game, and passively play church. But a passive faith is a boring faith - an unsatisfying faith. Jesus talked about a heartbreaking shortage that can cost people heaven - "The harvest is plentiful," He said, "but the workers are few." So much to do, so few people who will get in the game. Then He said, "Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers" (Matthew 9:37-38). That word "send out" actually means to "forcibly expel." It may be that your Lord is even now trying to pick you up and throw you into an assignment for Him - something eternal you can do with your life. The only right answer is Isaiah's answer, "Here am I ... send me!"
Maybe it's time for you to say, "Lord, I've been a taker for a long time. I've been a taker long enough. I'm ready to be a giver now. I've put other agendas ahead of Your agenda, but no longer. It's time for me to stand up and do something!"