Why is so much of the world still unevangelized?

It may be said, if Christ was the light of men only in incarnation, what light had men before the incarnation, and what light have they now? In both cases the world as such "lieth in the wicked one," in general total darkness covers men's minds. It is the condition into which men have got themselves. But in each case a testimony from God has existed in the world. In due time that testimony will overspread the world, at present and hitherto it has been more or less localised. The gospel is indeed addressed to all, its natural scope is universal; but in the first place the church, like Israel in its responsibility, has failed to work deliverance in the earth, and in the next, even where the gospel it preached and known, men will not always bow to it. Even in Christendom, how many have really been converted by the gospel? God knows.

The Church from the beginning has reason to be ashamed. We ought more thoroughly and universally to have carried out the gospel to every creature. It was, it is the business of the Christian here below — not the whole business, nor yet the most blessed part; but still a most sweet privilege, a most suitable and bounder duty; for duty we have just as much as privilege. We ought then and thus to have been found in our measure scattering the good seed throughout the field of the world. Let us own that it has not been done, and that we have our own great shortcoming to confess.

My object in making reference to these great facts is that the mind of the reader be freed from the erroneous ides which taken hold of some, with reference to the Gospel, that it has in any way failed as to its mission. That the whole world is not saved is no fault of the proclamation, for salvation is for all without exception. The fact is, men will not have it. But this was all foreseen of God; therefore we have, “He that believes not” as well as ” He that believes.” Men prefer the world. No one came to Christ when He was upon earth except those who felt their need, and it is so today: “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Prov. 27:7). Still, God has His intention in and by the Gospel, and from among the Gentiles, as well as from among the Jews, He is able to take a people “for His name.”

Why is it that we who have and can present the gospel as simply as others, even are capable of being attacked with such reproaches? Why have we been left so far behind in the evangelism of the world by others with much less light (truth), but zealous in their cooperation with one another for such purposes? Have we been too weighted down by the truth we have? If our truth is dead truth — head knowledge without the heart-felt practice backing up that knowledge — this probably is the answer, but not if it is living truth. Truth in its living power is weight as wings are to a bird. Had we gone in the same zeal, after the same people that others have sought, no ecclesiastical prejudice could have robbed us of the blessing. The hindrance has been something beside the truth or the position that we hold.

There is a widespread feeling of disappointment amongst the children of God at the present time because of the apparent non-success of their Gospel labours. The masses are less and less disposed to accept our Invitations, and come together to hear the marvellous story of God's grace. The Sunday Newspaper, the radio, and the many facilities for fleshly indulgence such as our fathers never dreamed of, are doing their deadly work in every direction. Even Britain, so long favoured with an open Bible, is rapidly becoming a pagan land. In conversation with individuals, one is frequently amazed at their absolute ignorance of even the outlines of Divine truth. An officer recently asked me who Moses was, for he had never heard the name before! Possibly the people in Central Africa are now more familiar with the things of God than the people of Britain. The need for revival is anxiously expressed. The following pages may serve to point the way to a true revival in spiritual things.

“How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” are the divine queries. What is wanted for the new conditions today are heaven-sent preachers. Alas! so many preachers do not know the gospel themselves, for they have not come under its power. If the message had come in power to themselves then they could preach the message in power.

I think that most of those here will be from nations which have hardly been exposed to the gospel before. We know that in our countries there is not a hunger and a thirst for the gospel at this moment and the ground is desperately hard. Mention was made earlier of 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 and those who have refused the gospel of the grace of God will have no opportunity to believe the gospel of the kingdom. Acts 28 is so clear: Paul said to the Jews, “you don't want the gospel: then we will go to the nations.” Today so-called Christian countries refuse the gospel of the grace of God: then the gospel of the kingdom will be sent elsewhere. I was only two weeks ago in Thailand where there are millions of people and very few have heard the gospel of grace.

Even at the present time there are many places where the gospel has not penetrated. True, there has been a wonderful opening of the world to the gospel of late, and there are not now many countries where the gospel has not entered at all. Still there are vast tracts in many countries where none have ever heard of Christ. We may say we are not called to engage in such pioneer work. Well, so be it; but you can bear up with all your sympathy, your prayers, and with your carnal things those whom God has called to these arduous labours. In how many cases has new ground been opened up by many, who have given up their lives to the cause, e.g. in the case of the Congo-Balolo Mission.

We see pictures of the naked or scantily clad heathen, and we are interested in the stories of them and their strange surroundings, but oh! how little we think of the millions going down to eternity without the knowledge of God, without having ever heard of Jesus or seen a Bible.

What need there is therefore for the gospel to be preached. Perhaps the apostle refers especially to Jews; but how true for all the world, that those do not call upon Jesus as Lord, who have not believed on Him; and that those could not believe on Him, who have never heard His Name; and that they cannot hear without a preacher! Lord, awake our hearts!

Yet how preach, if unsent? In the case of those who are sent, how beautiful are their feet to the eyes of God, as they traverse the mountains — the glad heralds of peace! How beautiful to God! This cheers the preacher's heart, even though he has to learn that it is not all that will obey the Gospel (vv. 14, 15).