March 13, 2024
Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Many people, including some of you, struggle with health concerns, family problems, work issues, and financial needs. Failing health is often the direct result of age. Who would not love to turn the clock back? However, that is neither realistic, nor possible. Yet, there is good news, even in painful and difficult times. The God who made us, and put in place the aging process, has a plan that far excels the difficulties and trials that we face for the few years we are here in the flesh. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). While this knowledge does not remove suffering, it puts it in perspective. Let us remember this when times are difficult.
There is an expression found 35 times in Scripture in various contexts. One instance is found in a quote by Paul, who, along with Barnabas, was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in Asia Minor. When the Jews rejected their message, “Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: “I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth”’” (Acts 13:46-47). Paul, Barnabas, and all the early Apostles traveled far from home to preach the Gospel.
It is easy to focus on personal salvation, as though that is God’s only purpose for calling you. However, both scripture and personal observation show that the overwhelming majority of mankind is not being called at this time. Multitudes down through history never heard the name of Christ, much less had a chance to accept Him as Savior. Yet, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Even today, the overwhelming majority of mankind worships idols and foreign gods, is atheistic, or is otherwise ignorant of the God of Creation. Why is this so? Here is part of the answer. Jesus tells us, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44, 65). Why is it that so few professing Christians understand that God is not trying to save the whole world right now?
Why do they not know why Christ spoke in parables? My childhood Sunday School teacher said He used parables to relate to shepherds and fisherman so they could better understand His message, but that is not how Jesus answered the question when presented to Him. “And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given’” (Matthew 13:10-11).
Much of the focus of mainstream Protestantism emphasizes what they see as personal salvation, but if God’s purpose for you is only your salvation, why does He not call everyone today? What makes us more special than individual human beings who make up the great mass of humanity who grow up Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or atheist? As I have often asked, “If God is not calling everyone, why is He calling anyone?”
The answers to this are easily understood from the Scriptures. We are called at this time to do a Work—a Work of preaching to all nations the good news of Christ’s coming Kingdom as a witness. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). We are also commanded to warn the Israelite nations and the world of what will happen unless they turn around (Ezekiel 33:1-7; Proverbs 24:11-12).
Salvation is a free gift of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, but those of us called now are expected to do a Work. We are not called for personal salvation only. Those who today follow Christ’s example have a reward waiting. “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together”’” (John 4:34-36). That reward is explained in Luke 19:11-27; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4; and elsewhere.
Dear brethren and co-workers, do you understand the extent to which you are part of something far greater than any of us individually? Every year at the Feast of Tabernacles, we show a video that highlights what God is doing through us. Two years ago, the focus was on Africa and I think all who saw it were surprised by how much work the Church is doing on that huge continent. Last year focused on the Work in the Australasian region. Again, I think many of us were surprised by both the challenges and the Work being done there.
At the Feast of Tabernacles this October, we plan to show what God is doing through our collective efforts in the Spanish-speaking world. To that end, several of us recently visited the southern most city on earth, at the tip of South America. The region is literally called “Fin del Mundo”—“the End of the World.” While Ushuaia is an incredibly beautiful city surrounded by mountains and glaciers, we went there to spend time with our precious brethren whom God has called in Rio Grande, a city three hours away. Despite the language barrier, these faithful brethren believe as we do. They have repented of their sins, accepted Christ as their personal Savior, been baptized by immersion, observe the seventh-day Sabbath, keep the seven biblical Festivals and Holy Days, and in other ways obey God.
They greeted us with great warmth and affection, and we enjoyed a grand feast together. We also checked out a resort where the Feast of Tabernacles was last held in 2018 in Tolhuin and explored the feasibility of holding it there in the future. The main problem is that the resort itself is limited to about 60 people, but there is another resort close by with a meeting room that can handle about 80, so it is worth considering.
We also visited congregations in Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, on this trip. The warmth and support given by all these members was overwhelming. I hope all of you are looking forward to seeing what God is doing throughout Central and South America, as well as in Mexico and Spain.
Dear brethren and co-workers, we are an incredibly small flock through whom God is doing a Work that far exceeds our numbers. The true Gospel and warning message are literally going to the ends of the earth and everywhere in-between. You can hardly find a small village in northern Canada, even above the Arctic Circle, where we do not have at least one Tomorrow’s World subscriber. No, we are not reaching all people, but we are going into all the world making disciples of all nations.
Our world continues to spiral downward toward the climax at the end of the age and the glorious return of Jesus Christ to save mankind from the results of its rebellion. To what degree God will work through us to reach our fellow man remains to be seen, but remember the words of Jesus when asked about the end of the age. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement and support in response to these letters and for this Work in general. It is gratifying to know that we are making a difference in the lives of many. You are truly an important part of something greater than yourself.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston