The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
–Luke 19:10
Some atheists have a better understanding of Christianity than most Christians. Celebrity magician and atheist Penn Jillette once made a surprising comment about Christians who don’t share their faith (or, as he called it, “proselytizing”). He said, “I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, or whatever, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward . . . how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that a truck was going to hit you, and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”
Isn’t that an astounding comment from an atheist? Jillette was echoing the theme of the passage we’re going to study this week. Paul said, in essence, “If Jesus Christ is really central in your life, then you’re going to devote your life to attracting people to the gospel.”
In Colossians 4, Paul said one test of your Christlikeness is your relationship with God. Jesus devoted His life on earth to fulfilling God’s agenda. As Jesus Himself said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). If you’re becoming like Christ, then you will have the same devotion to God’s agenda of seeking and saving the lost.
That certainly was Paul’s priority. In Colossians 4:3–4, he wrote, “[Pray] at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”
When Paul wrote these words, he was under house arrest, awaiting trial. Notice that Paul did not write, “Pray that God will open the doors of justice so that I can be free.” More important to Paul than being free was being faithful. Paul knew his purpose was to share Jesus Christ with as many people as possible, so his priority was opening the door for ministry. And if Jesus Christ is central in your life, then sharing the gospel will be your priority as well.
