If You Don’t Do It, Who Will?
My wife and I recently watched a
murder-mystery movie spotlighted by someone in law enforcement who bravely
confronted the “bad guys” in town. Near the end of the film someone told this heroic
main character something along these lines: “Now I understand why you do what
you do. If you don’t do it, no one else will.”
I believe this has some degree of
application to followers of Jesus as they confront the evil in this world and
seek to do the good that God calls them to do. While we should be primarily
motivated by our love for the Lord and our concern for others, we can also be
driven by the knowledge that if we don’t carry out the work God has given us to
do, it might not get done. Don’t misunderstand me. God’s ultimate purposes and
work will be accomplished in this world. He will do as He has promised. His
plans will come to fruition. However, the way in which He does it and the
people He uses along the way hinge partly on our willingness to cooperate with
Him and to be used by Him.
It is reminiscent of what was said
to Queen Esther as she faced the situation in which an evil man had plotted to
wipe out her people, the Jews. A close relative reminded her, “Do not think in
your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the
other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and
deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s
house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such
a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14). Esther providentially found herself in a unique
position to confront the evil and to save her people. If she didn’t do it, it
might not get done, at least not at that time and in that manner. God ultimately
would still protect His people somehow, but in the meantime Esther and others
would be tragic casualties of her failure to act.
We can apply this principle to
other biblical accounts. If Noah hadn’t built the ark, who would have? If David
hadn’t confronted Goliath, it sure seemed like no one else was willing to do
it. And if Jesus hadn’t gone to the cross to die for our sins, there was certainly
no one else who was qualified and capable of paying that price. Only the
spotless Lamb of God could do that particular work.
God has put each of us where we are
for a reason. He has put us in this time in history. He has placed you in your
family and may have providentially worked to put you in your specific community,
workplace, and church. He has given you unique gifts and abilities. There may
be people in your life that only you can reach as you show God’s love and share
the good news of Christ with them. If you don’t do it, no one else will. There may
be work to be done in service to the Lord that only you are in the position to accomplish.
If you don’t do it, it may not get done. There is evil, injustice, and
deception to confront in our day. If you don’t do it, who will?
Let’s not miss opportunities to
fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. Let’s not fail to be His voice, hands, and
feet in this world. God has chosen to use people like you and me to continue
the work that Jesus began. We need to be courageous and do it. Because if we
don’t, it may be that nobody else will.