In God’s glorious plan, evangelism winds the clock of human history. The closer we come to reaching the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the nearer the return of our Savior.

Thanks to global communications, our generation has an unprecedented opportunity to complete the task of global evangelism. Think about how easily accessible information is to the whole world. In August, two-thirds of the world watched the Olympics on television as they were broadcast from China. There are more than 100 million cell phones in Africa. The Internet is trickling into even the most tightly closed countries.

As the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has plugged into that technology, God has enabled us to lead more people to Christ in the last five years than we did in the previous 50.

Tens of thousands of evangelists who have been trained through BGEA are boldly sharing the Gospel with tribes and tongues in virtually every nation.

Most of us can remember when communism was the biggest obstacle to world evangelism. Twenty years later, look what our Lord has done to draw back the iron curtain. The Gospel is spreading in China, the world’s largest nation. Though it can still be difficult for believers in parts of the former Soviet Union, the Gospel is being faithfully proclaimed. In other parts of Asia and Africa, Christianity is thriving.

Only the Father knows the time of the Savior’s return, but since the Bible tells us that it is always imminent, we should all have a sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel with our friends, families and communities. Don’t let another day pass without making sure those you love know how much Jesus loves them, too.

Time is short. Now is the hour. Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5, NIV).

Christians have a God-given responsibility to share the light of Christ with the whole world. “You are the light of the world,” Jesus told His followers in the Sermon on the Mount. “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).

Let’s do it quickly.