INTRODUCTION: Considering the current happenings all over the world, it has become very necessary and mandatory for us to return into the Scripture to re-examine it closely with the view of reminding ourselves of our mandate in the World as God’s people. Right from the time of the creation till the time of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, God’s purpose for our creation and recreation in Christ has never been vague. The ultimate intention of God for our creation was stated expressly in the Scripture before and after He concluded His work (Genesis 1:26-28).
God’s entire efforts for the creation of mankind was in response to the terrible condition of the earth (Genesis 1:2). Our Lord Jesus Christ also did not leave us in doubt of His mission for redeeming us and establishing His Church (Matthew 4:19; 5:13-16; John 20:21-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8). The commission given by Jesus to His Church was also as a result of the state of the world (Matthew 9:35-36) and His desire to see the entire human race saved and transformed. In other words, the assigned mission of the Church of Christ is simply to go back into the world and establish the reign and the Kingdom of Christ everywhere human beings are found (Mark 16:15; Revelation 11:15). However, the fulfillment of our mandate in the world demands we understand the following:
1. Our Mission in the World - Isaiah 60:1, 2c; Philippians 2:15. As it were, our divine assigned mission supersede our chosen vocation or profession in the world. As a matter of fact, if well understood, our vocation or whatever we are doing is the platform for fulfilling our mission on earth which is to manifest Jesus, show case Jesus, proclaim Jesus, shine the gospel light to terminate the darkness in the world. Except we understand this and do this, the world will remain under the locked down of the darkness.
2. The Opportunity or Occasion for our Mission - Isaiah 60:2; Philippians 2:15. What Prophet Isaiah and Apostle Paul refer to as darkness, the thick darkness, crooked and perverse generation are simply the activities of the Devil who is on rampage with a great fury in every part of the world causing different kinds of troubles. We hear of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes eruption, tornadoes, typhoons, raging fire, storms and heavy rains resulting in great flood even in places where you least expected are also taking their toll in inflicting vengeance on mankind everywhere. Apart from natural disasters, we hear of ship wrecks, plane crashes, automobile accidents killing their passengers and crews. Socio-economic crisis in all over the world such as loss of jobs, unemployment, increased cost of living without corresponding increase in income and inflation causing the hearts of people to break and leading to depression even suicide. Domestic crisis and violence everywhere resulting in broken marriages, increased children delinquency and high rate of murder. Ethnic clashes, religious persecutions, communal violence are also on increase in our time. And now, the entire world is locked down by the pandemic of Coronavirus. All these are occasions for the Church to arise with her members already equipped with the knowledge and the power of God to shine in the midst of the dark world. One thing about the darkness and the light is this, the darker the darkness becomes the brighter the light shines. May the Lord cause His Church to heed His call to arise urgently and go into the world to fulfill our mandate in Jesus name.
3. God’s Provision for our Mission - Isaiah 60:1b, 2c. The God who has sent us is not unaware of both the nature and the terrain He asked us to go. We are to resist the darkness in the hostile, crooked and perverse world