By: Alex Gutierrez
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19
The great commission as we know it is to go out and make disciples. The word disciple in the Greek is matheteuo which means to follow as a pupil, to teach or instruct. In other words we are to go out and inspire people to become students of the Word of God. It’s our job to instruct others in the Word of God so that they may be followers of Christ as we are.
It doesn’t matter what your form of profession is. Whether you are a lawyer or a Doctor, a sales clerk or an environmental waste specialist; ultimately, as a Christian, you have been commissioned to preach the Gospel. What you do is not who you are and who you are is not what you do. Often times our identities are manifested in our occupational titles rather than in who we are in Christ.
I can remember as a second grader being assigned a project in which we were to determine a career path for our lives. The first thing that came to mind was that one day I wanted to be seated in the cockpit of the roaring machine that carried men and woman eager to fight for our country. Twenty two years later I find myself at the controls of this roaring machine humbled by the sacrifice of the men and women I am honored to fly across the war torn skies of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Lord has a really good way of putting things into perspective in our lives. Especially when it comes to matters of life or death. I will never forget the very first time I had to fly back transfer cases carrying the bodies of three American soldiers that had to come back home in a way they never thought they would return. There where no passengers on the jet it was completely empty quite and without life. In order to get to the galley or the bathroom we have to walk downstairs and sitting at the edge of the stairs where three transfer cases draped with American Flags. Any time I walked downstairs it was difficult to withhold the tears that where eager to come crashing down knowing what was before me. In the silver containers were the bodies of three American heroes, the sons of mothers and proud fathers, brothers, fathers and husbands.
I can remember wondering where the three souls where residing that night and how I hoped they ran their race with great conviction. It’s amazing how easy it is for us to get so busy with our lives that we forget the reason why we were even created. As Christians we have been given the greatest gift of life but so often we forget to give back that of which we have been given to others. I may be a pilot by trade but the reality is that it’s only a vessel or conduit in which I have been blessed with to spread the Gospel of Christ. My job is to fly airplanes but my purpose is to be used to save lives.
This last year I have spent a lot of time away from home living the dream. I have flown close to one thousand hours the equivalent of locking myself up in an airplane for 41 days straight without coming out. I realize that the sacrifice I am making is directly related with my family. Questions like, “Daddy when are you coming home?” or pleas like, “Daddy please don’t leave again,” bring me to my knees. When I first started flying world wide missions my 5 year old would tell me right before I left “Daddy I hope you find what you are looking for.” If that is not enough to bring a grown man to tears I don’t know what is.
I can say that this last year with as much as I have been away from home the Lord has redeemed the time I have sacrificed from my family. In every flight I take my purpose has been ministry and my goal is salvation in Christ. The Lord has blessed me with a cockpit ministry far beyond anything I could have conceived. Between the bible studies 35,000ft in the air crossing the Atlantic and the endless hours spent with men in their hotel rooms praying and studying we realize ministry happens exactly where we are at.
So what does it mean to make disciples? I have learned that it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God. I have had the opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ with countless individuals without ever having to initiate the process. I have learned that what’s required of me is to do my part in prayer and allow God to do the rest. The best part about working in a cockpit environment is that the individual next to me has no choice but to sit there for an extended period of time. Without even mentioning anything concerning the Gospel I wait until the person asks the right question. The difference is instead of me imposing on them my belief which, could make someone uncomfortable, I just strategically wait. I know that sooner or later the person sitting next to me will ask me the right question which leads to an explanation which then always leads to Christ. The difference is amazing. See, by them asking me a question they have now opened a door willingly and have invited me to share with them. There willingness to actively engage is now welcomed because they have imposed the question to me. It is literally an opportunity of a lifetime.
The process is simple. Jesus Christ has customized your testimony so that you may go out and preach the Gospel to the world. He continues to build upon your testimony so that you can tell about his story in you. The word teaches us that we are over comers by the words of our testimony. People are looking for a way to relate a God that seems distant to them through a real experience spoken of by you. There is no greater or more powerful way to present the Gospel than by starting with your testimony.
You do not need to be a bible scholar just be you. Tell others how the King of kings has changed your life.
We have all been given this great commission. As an officer in the military if I neglect my responsibilities imposed on me through my commission my future in the military would be inexistent.
Consider the responsibility of your commission and the lives that the Lord has set before you so that he may be glorified by the word of your testimony.
If you are ashamed of him he will be ashamed of you
Mark 8:38
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it’s the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”
Romans 1:16
