The next entry for my Blog is The Commission, which was written by David Neesmith, Carter Frodge, Madison Cain, Taylor Cain, and Logan Cain. The song was initially released December 11, 2021. A link to Cain performing the song is at the bottom of the Blog.
The Commission
See my hands and look at my feet
It’s okay if it’s hard to believe
I have faith you will do greater things
It’s my time to go but before I leave
Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the end
Don’t forget the things that I taught you
I’ve conquered death and I hold the keys
Where I go you will go too, someday
But there’s much to do here before you leave
Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the
End of the journey, the end of the road
My spirit is with you wherever you go
You have a purpose and I have a plan
I’ll make you this promise
I’ll come back again but until then
Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the end
go tell them about me
(Go tell the world) I’ve gotta go
(Go tell the world) for a little while
But goodbye is not the end
I write a lot of Blog entries focused on becoming a Christian and what Christ can do in our lives, but have never really written much about what Christ expects of each of us who have accepted him as our personal savior. I believe this song provides definition around Christ’s expectations of us.
The very first line has us drawing our attention to the sacrifice Christ made for us, he was nailed to the cross and died for our sins. He knows that it is perfectly normal, as human beings, to doubt that it would be Christ standing in front of any of us. He then makes an amazing statement, he who has conquered death says, “I know you will do even greater things.” Wow, stop and give that some thought! My first thought is, you have to be kidding, how can any of us possibly accomplish more than Christ?
The simple statement that follows, in the first line of the chorus, is to basically tell the world about him. He is asking us to essentially tell his story since he will be leaving them, but he did promise to return again one day, so it was more of “I will see you later” as opposed to “this is good bye.” This is the same commission Christ gives all of us in Matthew 28:16-20. 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”.
He doesn’t just ask us to go out into the world without preparation. To be successful in our task, we are firstly told to focus on the things Christ has taught us. Each of us needs to take a quiet time and reflect upon everything we have been taught via his teachings. How we should love everyone, how we should pray for everyone, that we should never be ashamed of his teachings, and that we proclaim his word wherever we go. Many of these things he has commanded us to do will take us outside of our comfort zone. Take a minute or two and reflect on these things we are told to do and assess your willingness to follow through on his commands for us.
A strong encouragement he gives us is that he conquered death and he now holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Those that accept him as their Lord and Savior will join him one day. Jesus knows there is a lot for each of us to do as we try to reach the world around us, but he died for our eternal life, so I don’t think it is an unfair request.
Jesus tells them his time on earth is done, but he leaves us with the Holy Spirit, which dwells in every believer, to guide and comfort us. In John 14:26, we find this promise, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Another point of note is that we are all given a purpose, but only he knows the plan. For these who believe they know all of God’s plans for them are terribly mistaken, we all want to operate within God’s plan since that is the only valid and successful plan. Jeremiah 26:4 tells us, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jesus promised eternal life to all of those who accept him as their personal Savior, and he also promised that he would return to the earth one day. We do not know the day of his return, but we all need to work on the commission he has laid out before us. We want to work on The Commission until he takes us home. When we are finally called to our eternal home, wouldn’t it be great to hear our Savior say, “well done my good and faithful servant?”