In the world of employment, job descriptions are vital to the success of any operation.

When hiring new employees, the first order of business should be to outline what this person will be responsible for, should they be hired. If employees don’t know what they’re tasked to do, and what they’re being paid for, confusion will reign supreme.

The same holds true in the kingdom of God. In the New Testament, Christians have a job description that is clearly laid out.  It’s clear, simple and profound.

Paul addresses this in his letter to the Thessalonians, and by the Holy Spirit to us today. Each believer, by virtue of the new birth, is approved by God Himself to be entrusted with the gospel.

Try and let that sink in.  Entrusted. With what? The gospel.

I have been saved since September 1978, and still I find that truth amazing beyond words. The eternal ramifications of that job description are something I am still trying to wrap my mind around. Entrusted. It’s the word that drives me, compels me, corrects me and encourages me.

Does it mean anything meaningful to you? It should. Now more than ever, we all need to live in the light of God’s job description.

The consequences of living with a lack of spiritual understanding in this are staggering.

When we study the four gospels, we find that Jesus had much more to say about hell than He did about heaven. Why is that? Because of what awaits for people who die lost in their sins. I’m told that death by fire is the most painful way to die.

If you’ve ever been burned, even just a little, you can no doubt believe that statement.  

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched – where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched – where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire – where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-48

These are not pleasant words to meditate upon, are they? Yet, to avoid these statements as if they aren’t there is the biggest mistake anyone could make.

The reason Jesus talked so much about the punishment for sin is because its real – it’s going to be meted out – and there’s only one way to stave off this terrible judgment. GET SAVED! 

But how can people receive salvation unless someone stands before them, and without apology or hesitation, declares the truth of the gospel? God’s gospel is the only way a person can find salvation. Jesus said it as plainly as it could ever be presented.

He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

No matter what the devil does to try and stop you from fulfilling your job description, do not yield to his temptations to avoid the responsibility God has laid upon every believer. You and I will stand judgment someday (soon) for the life we lived. 

The criteria for our judgment will be the choices we made with what we said and did (James 2:12). It will not go well for Christians who failed to grasp the immensity of responsibility that comes with being entrusted with the gospel of God.   

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent. Isaiah 62:6

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 3:17-19

Deliver those who are drawn towards death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? Proverbs 24:11-13

These statements are just a small sampling of the many verses throughout the Bible that talk about the great responsibility we have as children of God in this life. 

You see, to be entrusted with the gospel doesn’t just mean we share the good part of the good news, and ignore or avoid the other part. The Bible declares both the goodness and severity of God (Romans 11:22).

On those who believe and receive, they get to enjoy God’s goodness forever. On those who don’t, a horrible eternity awaits in the lake of fire. That’s what will happen to every human ever born, no matter what anyone says about it.

Truth doesn’t need to be defended because it is unchanging. It just needs to be proclaimed without partiality. That’s our job description. 

We are obligated to share the whole truth, what we commonly refer to as the “full gospel”. Oh, yeah, for people who are saved by faith in Christ, the word of God is full of exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). But the other side of this coin is what Jesus repeatedly emphasized with extreme clarity, because of what it is, and its duration. 

Unsaved people are one heartbeat away from a judgment that ends in suffering beyond comprehension – one that lasts forever. Eternity is forever. Eternally separated from God, tormented day and night without end. No parole. No hope of ever getting a reprieve, or even a break from the suffering. 

In Luke 16:19-31, we have the story of the rich man and Lazarus that tells the tale. Read it. It’s not a parable. That rich man is still in hell today, suffering the torment of fire for his own choices in life. He’s still asking for someone to just dip the tip of their finger in water, and place it on his tongue. If just for a moment’s relief from the pain. 

There wasn’t anyone then, and there never will be. Try to embrace the truth of that. 

The same criteria for end-times ministry applies to us now, as it did for Paul back then. Being entrusted with the gospel means our life is divided into 3 parts. 

First, we are told to preach to every man. Second, we are told to warn every man. Third, we are told to teach every man. 

How? In all wisdom. 

That means we can expect the Holy Spirit to show us the best ways to share the gospel with people. Notice we’re not just to preach and teach. Warning people of the consequences of rebellion against a Holy God is also part of what it means to be entrusted with the gospel.

That doesn’t mean we’re to always get up in people’s faces, screaming at them to repent! We’re to walk in God’s wisdom, trusting Him to lead us in the most effective ways to share the love of God with lost humanity. 

This was how Paul went about doing business for Jesus, and how we should, too.

Peter was one of the first to be used by God to introduce the gospel to the Gentiles. Recorded in Acts chapter 10, we see him supernaturally led by God to Cornelius’ house, where he has assembled his whole household with great excitement and anticipation. 

Listen to what he tells Peter as he brings him before all these people: So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” Acts 10:33

Picture this scene in your mind. After all of God’s maneuvering, with angelic visits to Cornelius, where the angel tells Cornelius that this man Peter will tell you what you must do (Acts 10:6), to three presentations of the same vision given to Peter on the housetop in the far away town of Joppa, showing him that what God has cleansed you must not call common (Acts 10:15), to Cornelius’ men finding Simon’s house just after Peter’s trance concludes (Acts 10:17-18), to the Holy Spirit specifically telling Peter to go with these gentile strangers without any questions asked (Acts 10:19-20), to finally being brought before a group of gentiles ready and waiting. 

Waiting for what? Waiting for the messenger of God – a person entrusted with the truth that can save these people from their sins. Saving them to serve God forever, avoiding an eternity of fiery torment apart from His presence. 

Words spoken in love and obedience – with the power to alter a human beings’ eternal destiny! Almighty God didn’t do this. Jesus in heaven didn’t do this. The angels didn’t do this. The Holy Spirit didn’t do this. 

A man entrusted with the gospel did it – and only he could! 

I find that beyond amazing! It’s awesome. It’s precious. It’s sobering. It’s reality! Make sure you are one of those whom God can count on – because He has entrusted you with the gospel!