Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation (Mark 16:15 NIV).

A philosopher once told a story about a circus that caught fire. The flames from the circus fire spread to the fields surrounding the circus grounds and began to burn toward the village below.

The circus master, convinced that the village would be destroyed and the people killed unless they were warned of the fire, asked if there were anyone who could go to the village and warn the people. The clown, dressed in full costume, jumped on a bicycle and sped down the hill to the village below.

"Run for your lives! Run for your lives! A fire is coming and the village is going to burn!" he shouted as he rode up and down the streets of the village. "The village is going to burn! Run for your lives!"

Curious villagers came out from their houses and shops and stood along the sidewalks. They shouted back to the clown, laughing and applauding his performance. The more desperately the clown shouted, the more the villagers cheered.

The village burned and the loss of life was great because no one took the clown seriously. After all, he was just a clown.

Being in full-time, vocational Christian ministry, I've noticed something in regard to personal evangelism. It's difficult for me to talk about Jesus with unbelievers without them assuming I'm supposed to talk about Jesus. In other words, they think it's my job; after all, I am a "professional Christian." You could say I'm the clown trying to warn people of the coming fire. With God's help, sometimes people see through the clown mask and Christian titles to the truth of the matter, but most of the time they see it as my paid position.

God's heart beats with it. Mark said it, "Go into all the world..." Our lives should glow with it. What's "it?" The answer: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word "all" in this verse leaves no room for questioning to whom the Gospel should be presented. "My next door neighbor?" Yes. "My co-workers?" Yes again. "The post-woman?" Yup. All is all!

To those of you who are not vocational Christian workers but are full-time Christians, I have great news! You can tell the people of the coming fire with effectiveness, so their homes don't burn. You have opportunities to share the love of Jesus in ways I don't. This certainly doesn't take me off the hook, but adds effectiveness for the ordinary every day Christian laborer. Remember, if you know Jesus, you're fully equipped because of the miracle He's done in your life.

So, how are you doing at sharing this "great news?" Take full opportunity of your full-time Christian status to warn the people in your influence about the reality of eternity.

-Jeff Baxter

Let your daily love and knowledge of Jesus grow and watch your passion for the lost explode too!