By Dave Breese

Growing in Grace—The first reason we are still here is very, very clear in Scripture. God leaves us in this world for the purpose of what the Bible calls growing in grace. Peter takes the time to give us one last admonition at the end of his second epistle. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). That wonderful process of grace takes place in salvation because we take the time to read, study, and memorize the Word of God. Growth in grace comes as a result of knowledge of the Word of God plus time. Pressures and problems come in order that they may produce in us this marvelous result of spiritual growth. When you have grown spiritually, that brings a concomitant capability, maturity, articulation, ability to do other things that greatly matter for Christ. The greatest need in the Church of our time is the need for mature Christians.

Being the Salt of the Earth—In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ spoke to believers in Him, and He said, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13). What would happen without the salt of the earth? The world will discover one day, and the answer to that will be the Great Tribulation. But in the meantime, we as believers are called upon to bear any burden, to face any challenge, and to solve any problem, in order that the influence of Christ in our lives may work in society.

Being the Light of the World—Christ said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). You are commissioned to carry this marvelous Word to the ends of the earth. You, with your life, and the words that you say, are to be a source of illumination to a lost mankind.

Being a Witness for Christ—“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power. But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). Christ has commissioned every individual believer to be, not only a follower of His, but an articulate, personal witness for Christ—a high calling indeed.

Protecting the World from Judgment—To protect the world from divine judgment—do Christians do that? Yes, they do. This is the Church Age, the Day of Grace in which God is calling out of the world a people for His Name, and they become the members of a great organism, called the Body of Christ, the Church. It’s the presence of the Body of Christ in the world that protects the world from judgment. THE WORLD IS STILL HERE BECAUSE WE ARE HERE!

In the midst of the recent disasters, we found amazing stories of the Church at work. Valiant soldiers of the cross fought flood and famine to rescue fragile lives. They battled for a greater cause—not only saving lives but also redeeming lost souls—by sharing the Good News of salvation through faith in Christ. The Bible says that, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).