4,500,000,000 is huge number – so what is significant about that number?  Last week I read Radical by David Platt and he states, “. . . more than 4.5 billion people in the world are without Christ.”  The author challenges us to seriously consider the consequences for those who have never heard of the Gospel.  Have you ever taken time to reflect upon those who ever never heard of Jesus?

He also encourages the reader to obey the commands of Christ.  If we are His disciples we have a responsibility to take the Gospel to those in need.  Platt may challenge some of your beliefs about Christianity, especially as it may be interpreted through the American dream.  He finds it interesting that many Christians are struggling to find God’s will.  Platt writes, “The question, therefore, is not ‘Can we find God’s will?’  The question is ‘Will we obey God’s will?’”  We must realize that God’s message is sufficient – if the Gospel has not reached to the ends of the earth then could the problem be with the messenger?

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As I read Radical I thought of the words of Jesus in John 9:4, "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”  Platt writes, “If more than a billion people today are headed to a Christless eternity and have not even heard the gospel, then we don’t have time to waste our lives on an American dream.”  He challenges the reader to take a radical experiment for a year:

1. pray for the entire world

2. read through the entire Word

3. sacrifice your money for a specific purpose

4. spend your time in another context

5. commit your life to a multiplying community

If you take this experiment for a year I believe it will change your life.  For more information check out the video at http://www.radicalthebook.com/.  What are your thoughts about the radical experiment?