Does God trust us human beings? Really trust us?? My brethren wrestled with me for many years on this point: they maintained that in the end God will snatch from His people the task of lighting the earth with the glory of the gospel, and will have angels do the job.
To whom did Jesus give the command, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel ..."? (Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15). To angels? Or to "us"?
Through the centuries, where do we find evidence that He has changed that plan? Oh yes, true, angels have helped in the work and blessed, but in reading history, they have done so when they found some human being who initially could be used. Still, the "burden" has rested upon God's people, His church.
Have God's people through the ages fulfilled this command of Jesus? Some say "Yes" in pride; others say "No." According to Revelation 3:14-21, it seems that Jesus regards "us" as being quite dilatory.
But does He still "trust" us humans? As we read that passage addressed "to the angel [the leadership] of the church of the Laodiceans," it would appear that yes, He still is forced to trust us. The Father trusted His only begotten Son to the care of humans when He was born in Bethlehem (the world crucified Him but there were some who cared for Him, thank God!). The honor and vindication of Christ in the great controversy between Himself and Satan require that God's people "repent" and fulfill His gospel commission.
Is it possible that "Laodicea" (or "the angel" thereof) shall repent? Is God's confidence in His people in vain? A wise writer has said that He has staked the honor of His throne on His confidence, that yes, in the end, His people will be honest, and will repent and believe! And so the question remains, Can God trust YOU?
--Robert J. Wieland
