It is amazing after you have spent four decades studying and teaching the Bible when a verse you’ve read hundreds of times and can quote from memory hits you with another truth. Once again, this happened to me when I read the Great Commission, verses that are foundational to all missionaries. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:19, 20). Two important new insights jumped out, like a bright light shining in my face. It is never easy for anyone responding to Christ’s Commission to pack up their belongings, gather their family, and ‘Go’ to a country somewhere in the world they have only read about. First, they are leaving their family, their friends, and their church. Second, people may fear they will be on their own, alone with no one to help if trouble comes. We call the first part of these verses the Great Commission, Go therefore. However, it is easy to miss the importance of the latter part. I call it the Great Commitment, which is the promise that He makes to you when you go—I am with you.
The second insight comes from just one word, with. New Testament translators use the word ‘with’ 462 times. Yet, most often, we read a verse and never give a thought to this short preposition. However, in several verses it has profound implications. Such is the case in verse 20; I am with you. The definition of ‘with’ in this context means presence, proximity, participation, and accompaniment. Jesus commissioned us to go but not alone. He commits to go with us; to accompany us; to be present and participate alongside of us in the work where we go. The promise from the Lord of being with His people goes back to the beginning of the nation of Israel. “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you”. . . “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut 31:6, 8).
This truth is not only relevant to missionaries going abroad or to a different culture but to all believers doing His work. Your going may be no more than across town or another office in your place of work. Your ministry may take place within the church building. The application is the same. When He asks you to go and minister for Him, He will be present with you and participating alongside of you. Christians are never alone. The Lord had to remind Paul He was with him when he came to Corinth and rejection and persecution immediately began. Paul became afraid. And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city” (Act 18:9, 10). With this assurance that God was present and participating alongside of him, he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (v11).
People often feel like they are alone, but we can’t base His presence on our feeling; we must ground it on His promise of being with us. So, what does it mean that He is with us in everyday life? When Joshua was about to lead Israel to conquer the land of Canaan, God made this promise “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Jos 1:9). It meant Joshua and his army could be strong, courageous, without fear against enemies more powerful than the inexperienced army of Israel. Note the later part of this verse, with you wherever you go. God wasn’t just going with them to select areas or leaving after Israel gained some experience as soldiers. No, He promised to wherever. Jesus makes this same promise in His Great Commitment. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Donna and I were in a remote village 200 miles from any town and she had a miscarriage. What the tribal people called a hospital was a building with no windows and dogs casually walking up and down the halls. I still believe the doctor received his medical degree by correspondence and the only medicine they possessed was morphine. The only means of contact was an old crank phone in a small shack. If we ever felt alone, it was the several days we were stranded there. Yet, despite our feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and powerlessness, God was with us and demonstrated He was with us in several miraculous ways. You may be physically alone with no family or friends, but you are not alone, He is with you always.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me [present and accompanying me] (Psa 23:4).