(by Dr. Larry Ollison)

Three days after the crucifixion, God Almighty raised His Son, Jesus, from the dead. That very day He ascended into Heaven and placed His blood on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant that is called the Mercy Seat. When He did this, He became the once-and-for-all perfect sacrifice for mankind. As the Lamb of God, He placed His perfect blood on the perfect altar that had never been stained by the blood of bulls and goats.

He then returned to earth and for forty days taught His friends, family, and disciples the revelation of the Kingdom of God. When the forty days was complete, He ascended into Heaven to take His place at the right hand of the Father. But just before He ascended, He gave final instructions to those with Him.

When a person in authority needs to leave, they usually instruct the ones left behind in what they would like for them to do. But in every case, the final instructions are the most important. The last thing Jesus said to His followers before He ascended was that He wanted them to go into all the nations and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).

This command was not a suggestion, but a requirement; it was not just for the early Christians, but for the entire church. Every believer should produce more believers and we do this by taking the Word to the world. Many will say, "I can't physically do that," and that may be true. You may not physically be able to travel and to send the Word of God to those who have not received it. However, you are not exempt from the requirement.

Every Christian has three options when it comes to fulfilling this requirement. Regardless of your age, gender, race, or level of education, every believer has been commissioned to evangelize and make disciples of all nations. Here are your three options:

Option #1 - Take the Word to the world yourself - Dedicate your life physically to the purpose of taking the Word of God to the world outside of your own family. Every Christian parent has the responsibility and call of God to train their household through teaching and example. However, Option #1 goes beyond that. This person has a special calling from God and submits to that calling by dedicating their entire life to teaching and making disciples of others.

Option #2 - Financially support someone taking the Word to the world - For those who do not have the special calling of God on their life to full time service in the gospel ministry, the fulfillment of the command by Jesus to make disciples of all nations can still be achieved. It is accomplished by financially supporting those who are taking the Word and making disciples.

With this support comes the responsibility of accountability. First, you must be faithful to give cheerfully and generously and you must know the integrity of the ministry to which you are giving. The Apostle Paul told the church in Philippi that they would share in his reward as he made disciples in his travels. Even though they stayed at home, because of their financial support, the Bible tells us that they would share in Paul's reward (Philippians 4:17).

Option #3 - Do nothing - You may say, "At this time I do not want to make a decision." Actually, by saying this you are automatically defaulting to Option #3. Unless you decide to be someone who takes the Word to the world as a full time minister, or you decide to support a ministry that is taking the Word to the world and making disciples, you are choosing to do nothing. You are choosing Option #3 and that option receives no rewards from the Lord (Revelation 22:12).

Several times Paul wrote in his letters to the churches that a time would come when everyone, including himself, would stand before the Lord and give an account as to what they had done (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). This is not a time when salvation will be judged because everyone standing before the Lord at this time (the judgment seat of Christ) will be Christians. Salvation will have already been attained and this judgment is to hand out eternal rewards for the work done on earth before the rapture.

Now let us remember the closing words of Jesus just before He ascended into Heaven. His final command was for those who believe to make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe His commands. This can be accomplished and rewards can be obtained by choosing Option #1 or Option #2. Choosing Option #3 by choice or by default will leave you standing at the throne empty-handed. Choose now before it is too late!