Too Important Not To Share

Do you remember the Mercedes TV commercial a few years ago that showed a Mercedes crashing into a concrete wall during a safety test? An engineer in a white lab coat walks over after the crash and kneels down to examine the damage, which is minimal. A reporter then asks the engineer about Mercedes’ energy-absorbing car body. After the engineer tells all about the unique design, the reporter asks him why Mercedes doesn’t enforce their patent on the design, a design evidently copied by several other companies because of its success.

The engineer then replies matter-of-factly, "Because some things in life are too important not to share." How true this is. There are many things in life that fall into this "too important not to share" category. When Flemming discovered penicillin, it was too important not to share. When Sabin and Salk developed polio vaccines, these were too important not to share. There have been hundreds – even thousands – of scientific, medical, and sociological discoveries which were too important not to share.

But, there is something that outweighs all others in value. This one thing has ramifications, not only in this life but also in the life to come. That which outweighs all others in value is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every person on the face of this earth should have the opportunity to hear and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why is it then, that many of those who have heard it and claim to follow Christ’s teachings are so reluctant to share it with others? Isn’t the gospel plan of salvation too important not to share? Do we care so little for our family members, our friends, and our neighbors that we would deny them the opportunity for an eternal life with God?

Jesus, through his words, commands his followers to share the good news of the gospel. He told His disciples, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15 NKJV). Jesus also told them, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 NKJV).

There are some things which, when discovered or developed, become apparent that they are so vital to the welfare of all that they are too important not to share. The Mercedes engineers recognized that with their innovative car design. Lives were at stake and they could not morally justify keeping such a live saving innovation to themselves. Doesn’t the gospel of Jesus Christ contain the words of life (1 John 1:1; James 1:21)? Isn’t it too important not to share?