Living in the Light of Eternity: Your Life Can Make a Difference

K.P. Yohannan has a true heart for lost souls, and I was familiar with his ministry (Gospel for Asia) and his book "Revolution in World Missions" which described his ministry's efforts. Therefore, I knew before I read "Living in the Light of Eternity" that I would be in for a challenge, and Brother K.P. did not disappoint. Yohannan uses many illustrations from his own experiences to make his points, and this not only gives the book an easy-to-read, conversational style but also makes the examples he gives hit closer to home for the reader. I must admit that as I first began to read through the book, I began to see where I fall short in certain areas of my walk with the Lord. Then, probably in reaction (most likely a defensive reaction) to these insights, I began to question whether Brother K.P. was asserting that every Christian should be a missionary. I thought, "If we all become missionaries, then there will be a lot of other things that are left undone in the world," and I was feeling woefully inadequate because I have not heard a calling to missions from God. After recovering my bearings somewhat, and reaching the helpful chapter titled "Guidelines for Living in the Light of Eternity," I began to see that Yohannan was not trying to make us all into missionaries, but was truly challenging us to make the most of every opportunity that we have to make a difference in this world. As Yohannan states, "As a matter of fact, it may be more difficult to stay behind as a sender than to go yourself. You are not on the front lines. You are living simply, working a regular job, remaining faithful to the Lord and preserving your testimony before all your coworkers. Taking the money you earn and giving it faithfully to support a missionary in China or India or Bangladesh - someone you have never seen for whom you are also praying - is true sacrifice and living by faith. No one can dictate to you a certain standard of living or draw any kind of line, culture or no culture. Each of us must be persuaded to live before the Lord as we are led by Him." In James 2:17 we are told, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (NASB). What this means is that, while faith is sufficient for salvation, our faith benefits no one but ourselves if we don't put what the Lord has taught us into action. Whether that means sharing your faith with your family, friends, neighbors, or strangers; helping others by donating time, money, and/or effort to lay ministries in church or to charitable causes; supporting missionaries and ministries; or (if called by God) entering into full-time ministry or missions, we are all called to do whatever we can do in order to further God's kingdom. If I start to get that self-satisfied (or self-righteous) feeling that I am doing a lot, then I will need to return to this book for a reminder that there is always more to be done and more that I can do. This is a challenging and, in the end, (thankfully) an encouraging book a

The old poem goes, "Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last. And when I am dying how happy I'll be if my life was spent only for Thee." This poem embraces this work by Gospel for Asia founder and president, K.P. Yohannan. Yohannan is a man with a burning passion to see the Church wake up and see how important it is to evangelise every nation in our generation. We in the West so often (to borrow from Leonard Ravenhill) sleep in the light while the world is dying in darkness. We alone have the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We alone have the only true gospel (Romans 1:16-17). We alone are the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). And so what do we do with this good news is the question presented in this book. In our age of self-seeking, purpose-driven, flesh exalting, how we need to heed the message of Yohannan in this book. The book shows how we need to live our lives everyday in the light of eternity. Soon we will stand before the Lord in judgment (Hebrews 9:27) and our works will be revealed (1 Cor. 3:10-15). The way we spent our time, our resources, our gifts - everything will be laid before the Lord (Romans 14:11-12). We must choose now to live in the light of eternity. Everyday 144,000 souls go into eternity here on planet earth. Almost all of them will be cast into eternal fire because of their sins and their lack of salvation found only in Christ (Acts 4:12). Do we care? Do we waste our time, our prayers, our giving all for naught? Let this book show you how to truly live in the light of eternity (2 Cor. 4:16-18).