When it comes to sharing our faith with others by building relationships that with them that will enable us to scatter the seed of Gospel in their lives, or water and nurture its growth or even be a part of the harvest, I hear a lot of excuses for why "I couldn't possibly do that." I am too old, don't know any lost people, don't good people go to heaven, I am too shy or I just don't feel comfortable talking with someone about something so personal and private.
Well, the best example I know of for "no excuses" is Ludwig Beethoven. Perhaps the most brilliant composer, pianist and conductor in history began losing his hearing at age 26. By the time he was 45 he was completely stone deaf. He could no longer perform and did not go out in public much because of his handicap and yet he did not let his misfortune of deafness stop his productivity. Between 1816 and his death in 1827 he composed Piano Sonatas 28-32, a Funeral Mass, Missa Solemnis,, 12 String Quartets , 16 Bagatelles and perhaps his "Pièce de résistance" the effervescent Ninth Symphony for orchestra and chorus.
When the Ninth Symphony was premiered in Vienna, May 7, 1824 Beethoven even though completely deaf took the baton and conducted his last and greatest work. At the end of the work, the audience leaped to their feet cheering and applauding. The Concertmaster (first chair first violinist for the uninitiated) had to physically turn the composer/conductor around on the podium to see the audience response.
So, let us not make any more excuses but get busy for the Master and complete His MIssion. According to reliable sources there are over 7,000 language groups in the world and we have reached approximately 43% of them with the Gospel; not to mention our next door neighbors. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations (Greek, "ethnos" ethnic peoples or language groups), and then the end will come." Mt 24:14.
