“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth ^[will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:19

You have yours. I have mine, as well as every Christian, signed and sealed by the Father of the Bridegroom—God Almighty—with the Holy Spirit to direct and to enable us to distribute them (Matt. 28: 19-20; Acts 1:8).

They are invitation cards for all who will believe in His Son—Jesus Christ—and His finished work on Calvary to come and receive everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). The invitation is to enter and take part in His kingdom agenda (Mk.1:14-15). They have in them the power of life and death (Rm. 3:23; 6:23).

Those who respond positively will have rest from their labors and relief from their burdens. (Matt. 11:28). When they believe in the message it carries, they will receive the right to become children of God (Jn. 1:12-13). Because they confess with their mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, they will receive life in Him—salvation for their souls (Rm. 10:9-10, 13). They will receive a unique garment called righteousness, fit for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb—the eternal Son of God (Matt. 22:2-4, 12).

Our responsibility is to distribute these invitation cards (?) to the farthermost parts of the world—not at our convenience, but as a matter of urgency because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16), and the end and dreadful day is fast approaching (Malachi 4:5; Heb. 10:25).

Peter did his part on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-39), in Samaria (8:14-17), in Caesarea (10:34-45), and other parts of the world, as the Spirit led him. The rest of the Apostles also did their bit when they shared the message everywhere the Spirit carried them.

Paul stepped up to the plate and pushed frontiers, opening them up for the distribution of the invitation cards from the Lord amidst great danger, suffering, and affliction (2 Cor. 11:22-33).

A countless number of saints after them have finished their course and done their part.

It is our turn now. You have your bunch of invitation cards, and I have mine. The world awaits to receive them. The responsibility is theirs—to accept the invitation or reject it—not ours. Ours is faithfulness to the Great Commission—our mandate from the Master before He left the earth. (Matt. 28:19-20).

How are we doing—distributing the invitation cards or just holding on to them? How many cards do you have to give out where you are today?

That’s how it works, so let’s be diligent in this grand rescue effort and not disappoint our Lord.