And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”            Mark 16:15-16

                                   Name Change  

          When I was growing up, there was an empty lot between my grandparents’ house and my aunt and uncle’s house. I have such happy memories of the many hours spent on that lot.  All of the neighborhood kids would gather there to play. On Saturdays, we would play from early morning until the grownups decided it was time for us to come in for the night.  One game we often played was tag.  (I bet most of you remember playing that as well.)  We didn’t need any special equipment.  We just needed fast legs and good lungs to shout, “TAG, YOU’RE IT!

          Years ago, God gave Bobby an illustration for a message on salvation.  He talked about how we have all likely played the game of tag at some point in our lives.  The way the game goes is that someone will be “it” while the others take off in all directions.  The person who was “it” would start chasing everyone.  When he got close enough to tag one of the others, he would yell, “Tag, you’re it!”  Then that person would have to chase everyone until he got close enough to tag someone.  Bobby said that is a picture of how we spread the gospel.  When we are saved, we tell someone about Jesus and they get saved.  Then that person tells someone, or tags someone with the Good News of Jesus, and they get saved.  That’s how we get the gospel around the world.  

          D. L. Moody once said, “So, if we only lead one soul to Christ, may we set a stream in motion that will flow on when we are dead and gone.”

He understood the principle of “tagging” someone with the gospel and causing a chain reaction of that person telling one who would tell another who would tell another. 

          So the question is, “Who have you tagged?”  If you are a Christian, you are in the game.  Don’t just sit there after being tagged.  Go hard after someone who needs to be tagged.  

          One thing I remember about playing in that open lot as a child is that everyone was welcome.  We never told anyone they weren’t allowed to be part of our group and join in on the game.  But, I wonder if I have unknowingly sent that message as an adult.  A message that said, “You are not wanted in this game. I won’t tag you with the gospel because it’s not important to me that you are a part of this group.”  If so, I pray that God will forgive me.  I pray He will give me other opportunities to “tag” others so that they will put their faith and trust in Jesus and become part of the group - a group of baptized believers who find joy in sharing the Good News that God loves everyone and Christ died for everyone.  I want to set in motion a stream that will continue to flow long after I am gone.