End Game

My husband and I are huge fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). We love the intergalactic battles raging across time and space, and the artfully crafted storylines that pull you in. One Marvel film, in particular, had us on the edge of our seats cheering on the culmination of decades of strife-The End Game. In this film, good and evil drew a line in the sand, as all of creation hinged on the precipice of eternal change. It’s no wonder audiences all over the world stood to their feet as the final scene played out in all of its glory. 

Even if you are over the superhero genre, there is an end game going on that should interest you. Like that of the MCU, this epic battle spans across time and space as good and evil clash. Our enemy Satan, the ancient serpent of deception, is rearing up for a final showdown with the Alpha and Omega-God- the creator of the universe. Scripture warns us that no one knows the day or the hour for this final endgame battle (Matthew 24:36) yet, we are given a hint as to when these actions will unfold:

 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

The end will come, definitively when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached throughout the whole inhabited earth. This is our end game! We are not just passive observers of the battle yet, God is calling on us to bring the promise of Matthew 21:14 to fruition. This passage serves as a call to action and it is calling YOUR name! 

So what are we called to do in this end game? We needn’t look any further than the great commission. “Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-19 God is literally calling us to Go-to put feet to our faith and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations. 

In Rev. 7:9-10  John is given a glimpse into the beauty of heaven where he sees, “ a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” While we have made progress in spreading the Gospel among every nation and every tribe there is still much ground to cover. He is calling on his ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) to represent his kingdom in this fight.

According to JoshuaProject.net, there are currently 17,473 People Groups on the earth. 7,441 of these people groups would be considered unreached. This means that if they wanted to hear the Gospel they likely would not have access due to a lack of viable indigenous churches or a lack of scripture in their language. 

 7,441 people groups out of 17,473 may not seem so bad. But the amount of unreached people groups (mostly in Asia and closed nations) make up 42.6 % of the global population. This number represents 3.24 Billion people with few, if anyone, heralding the message of Jesus Christ offering the free gift of salvation. 

Folks, this should pull on our heartstrings. God has set before us this epic end game and he has commanded us as believers to take part in it. Yet too often we find ourselves picking up our phones rather than picking up our cross to follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26). 

We should not lament too long over our lack of urgency because God has prepared a way. Scripture tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.”Matthew 9:37 Join me in praying to the Lord of the Harvest that his Gospel will fill the earth and that every tribe and every nation will be represented among those who bow at his feet! 

God is challenging us all to usher in this end game by keeping a global perspective of what God wants to do through you. Maybe God is tugging at your heart to serve as a missionary within an unreached people group? Maybe God wants you to line up as a prayer warrior at the front line or maybe he wants you to consider making a greater kingdom investment with your finances. Whatever it is he has called you to do, I pray that we respond in the spirit of submission. I pray that we suit up for the end game as we take His gospel to the ends of the earth. 

For more information on unreached people groups and how to get involved see joshuaproject.net, https://www.perspectives.org/, omf.org/resources