Hold the Rope.
A man with speckled grey and black hair sits in a large office chair. His face is gently lined with experience and wisdom as he contemplates the dilemma before him. On his desk lies a long, coiled rope. He sighs deeply as he stares at it, thinking. The rope, once very short and thin, is now an extensive, substantial and sturdy piece of twine. It is now capable of many different functions, but instead it is sitting here useless.
The man furrows his brow and thinks about the time, energy, and sweat he spent acquiring it. He has heard stories about people trapped in wells all over the world, and he knows his rope is needed to help with the rescues. His rope alone, however, is not enough. He needs someone capable of going into the well for him, as he is incapable of rescuing the people on his own. The man is startled by a knock at the door. Swinging it open, he sees a young man smiling back at him.
“I’m going into the well, but I need your help,” he said. “I am willing and able to go, but I have no rope with which to lower me down. If you have a rope, together we could rescue many people.” The older man thinks for a moment and glances over his shoulder at the desk. Smiling, he scoops the rope off the desk and the two men walk out the door together, embarking on the greatest adventure of their lives.
We hope this allegory has helped you understand, and see the need for each facet of missionary work. The man trapped in the well represents the lost of this world; the people who have never made the decision to come to Christ, or even heard the story of Jesus. They are trapped and alone, with no way of getting out of their hopeless situation on their own.
The young man in the story represents the missionary who travels to the ends of the earth to rescue those who are trapped. He is the man or woman who is willing and able to physically go to the people in need. Similarly, the older man plays a part in the salvation of the lost, but in a different way. He represents the person who cannot physically go to the lost, but instead financially or prayerfully supports the missionary. The rope itself represents the finances and prayers sent to support the missionary.
Each of these responsibilities of missions work is equally important. Each is fully reliant on the other in order to ensure the success of all. The missionary cannot go without money. The prayers are essential to support him as well. The person who supplies the money cannot help those in need of rescuing without the missionary to go to them. Missions are the heartbeat of God. What role do you play in the harvest of souls?
To find out more information about holding the rope for ETC students, fill in the contact information form below.
The man furrows his brow and thinks about the time, energy, and sweat he spent acquiring it. He has heard stories about people trapped in wells all over the world, and he knows his rope is needed to help with the rescues. His rope alone, however, is not enough. He needs someone capable of going into the well for him, as he is incapable of rescuing the people on his own. The man is startled by a knock at the door. Swinging it open, he sees a young man smiling back at him.
“I’m going into the well, but I need your help,” he said. “I am willing and able to go, but I have no rope with which to lower me down. If you have a rope, together we could rescue many people.” The older man thinks for a moment and glances over his shoulder at the desk. Smiling, he scoops the rope off the desk and the two men walk out the door together, embarking on the greatest adventure of their lives.
We hope this allegory has helped you understand, and see the need for each facet of missionary work. The man trapped in the well represents the lost of this world; the people who have never made the decision to come to Christ, or even heard the story of Jesus. They are trapped and alone, with no way of getting out of their hopeless situation on their own.
The young man in the story represents the missionary who travels to the ends of the earth to rescue those who are trapped. He is the man or woman who is willing and able to physically go to the people in need. Similarly, the older man plays a part in the salvation of the lost, but in a different way. He represents the person who cannot physically go to the lost, but instead financially or prayerfully supports the missionary. The rope itself represents the finances and prayers sent to support the missionary.
Each of these responsibilities of missions work is equally important. Each is fully reliant on the other in order to ensure the success of all. The missionary cannot go without money. The prayers are essential to support him as well. The person who supplies the money cannot help those in need of rescuing without the missionary to go to them. Missions are the heartbeat of God. What role do you play in the harvest of souls?
To find out more information about holding the rope for ETC students, fill in the contact information form below.
