Eternal Attraction

Eternal Attraction – Pastor Charlie Koh, SIB

When people mention mission, typically mission trips and going away to a far away land to preach the gospel come to mind. However, Christopher Wright has in fact advocated that mission is simply attracting people towards God.

What is the mission of God’s people? God’s people are committed to blessing others. They are committed to walking in the ways of God, in righteousness and justice. They strive to work for holistic redemption for the oppressed. They seek to live lives of practical holiness in the world. Ultimately, all that God’s people do as a whole is to attracts other people towards God.

If a church is only inward looking, and not outward looking, it will not grow. Likewise, the Believer who is only inward looking and does not look outward cannot grow.

In Titus 2:9-10, Paul instructs Titus  “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” The word “make attractive” here is “cosmeo”, from which we get the word “cosmetic”. Today, cosmetics gives us the impression of a superficial, polishing image. However, the principle here is a longing by God’s people to make the gospel, and the teachings of God attractive, like a magnet attracting people to God. If we place God in the centre of our lives, we will draw people into the sphere of His blessing. The main thing is “God must be in the centre of mission, not what we do”. God in the centre draws people towards God. Its not about works, its not about charity, its about attracting people towards God. When you serve others, you are attracting them towards your God.

Missions attract curiosity. When a group of Christians go to a far away place for just a few days, people wonder “Why are they doing it? How much difference can they make?” Just their presence alone attracts people towards God.

In Deuteronomy 4:5-8 Moses told the Israelites “See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

God put Israel on a pedestal for the other nations around them. Two qualities stood out in particular for Israel. Firstly, their God is near them and secondly, they have the standards of God. They were open to be seen, open to be compared, open to be challenged. For us, it is the same. If you say you are a Christian, people automatically become more watchful of your behavior. There is a high expectation of Christians. We will automatically attract curiosity because we have the attraction of the Holy Spirit in us.

One lady who attended the Alpha course wondered why Christians were so fanatical. However, by the 7^th week, she had accepted Christ. She was attracted to the community, the relationships, the caring and love shown by the people. Missions attract seekers.

In 1 Kings 8:41-43, King Solomon prayed “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

Solomon knew that through Israel, foreigners would hear of God’s great name, they would seek answers to their prayers, and God would hear their prayers. There are three things in particular that God’s people and the temple would attract. They would attract admiration. They would attract worship, and they would attract approval.

What is required for us to make the difference in missions in our lives? Firstly, is integrity. Secondly, is intimacy with God.

Kevin Carter, the photographer that took the picture that made the world weep won the Pulitzer prize in 1994, but committed suicide three months later. The picture he took was of a small emaciated child struggling to walk as a vulture looked on patiently in the background. His mission had been to win the prize, but after all he had seen, he could not bear it. In his suicide note, he wrote “The pain of life overrides the joy to the point that joy does not exist”. The point is that self-focus does not get very far, but a life of purpose attracting people towards God is rich and fulfilling.

May we begin to look at ourselves differently as truly ambassadors of Christ, attracting others towards the mighty and awesome God that we have. In Jesus name, Amen.