This, oft-neglected final verse of Acts 8, follows the well-known account of Philip preaching to and baptizing the Ethiopian. It’s important to note that Philip kept on preaching. Perhaps here is a simple message to every Christian to do the same. Mack Lyon, in a an old edition of the In Search of the Lord’s Way TV program, provided three reasons why he keeps preaching the Gospel.
The first reason, Lyon cited is “because, just as God raised up David to be king over Israel (Acts 13:22), He raised up you and me for a purpose.” Friends, if I am to believe that I am created in the image of the Almighty, I must also believe that my life has purpose. In Ecclesiastes 1:3-6, the preacher writes, “What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; and hastening to its place it rises there again. Blowing toward the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along; and on its circular courses the wind returns.”
Then, in the last two verses of Ecclesiastes, we read, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
My life may be “that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14), and everything may be “dust in the wind”, but all indications in the Bible point to a Christian’s mortal and temporary life having special purpose – obedience and the preaching of the everlasting Gospel.
Lyon’s second reason to keep preaching is “because I can’t keep from it.” In Acts 4, when Peter and John were commanded to stop preaching, they answered, in verse 20, “…[W]e cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah discusses the power of God’s Word within him and just how hard it is to hold it back: “…[I]f I say, ‘I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,’ Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9; emphasis mine, DH).
Aren’t there moments in each of our lives when we become frustrated that we haven’t spread more of the Gospel to our friends in the community? I wonder if it shouldn’t feel more like a burning fire, set to ravage the sins of the world. What must it feel like to be weary of holding our tongues when presented with the opportunity of preaching? What a powerful statement by the prophet!
And thirdly, Lyon believes he must keep preaching the Gospel “because souls are lost without it.” In Romans 10:14f , the apostle Paul writes, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’”
It makes one sick to think of the tens of millions of people who die every year and realize most of them were lost. Yet it is true! In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the church is asked, “…[D]o you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” How will the living understand the severity of God’s condemnation and the amazing, lovely reward of His grace unless someone preaches it to them?
The Ethiopian was convicted by Philip’s teaching Christ to him. He repented, confessed, and submitted to immersion to be forgiven. The same response is just as necessary for every individual that walks the earth with us today.
May we keep preaching the Gospel!