Secrets

Top secret? Classified? Or open to public view? One careless step cost England its terrorism control secrets and the top security officer his job.

On Thursday, April 10, Robert Quick, the top counter-terrorism officer of Great Britain, stepped out of his car headed for a meeting at 10 Downing Street to report on plans to insure the safety of his fellow citizens. The problem was that the top page of the sheaf of papers in his right hand exposed the secret plans. Sharp-eyed photographers enlarged the telephoto pictures they took and could clearly read of secret plans to surprise suspects in a forthcoming roundup. The careless move was captured and printed in inglorious color in The New York Times and elsewhere around the world.

The error cost Quick his job, and British citizens lost much-needed confidence in the government’s ability to strike national threats in a timely and effective manner.

It is a flashback of another unwitting disclosure during World War II. As America’s allies were preparing for D-Day, a sudden gust of wind whisked a few copies of top-secret plans for the invasion of Normandy off a desk and out an open window. Scurrying wildly, the planners hit the streets to recover them and found all but one. Not until the invasion was successful did they breathe the proverbial sigh of relief knowing the unfound copy had not fallen into enemy hands.

How different is the message arising from Easter’s cross and resurrection! Instead of being told to secretly preserve the battle plans and news, Christ’s disciples were commissioned to go everywhere (Mark 16:15-16). Christ told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Even in the Old Testament, anticipation looked globally. "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth!" (Isaiah 45:22).

This global response is anchored to universal participation as Romans 10:14-15 outlines. "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

The Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:18–20 enjoins comprehensive Christian cooperation. Christ has "all authority" sending us to "all nations," teaching them "all things" that He taught them, and He is with us " always, even to the end of the age." Since the age is not ended and we claim His unfailing presence, that commission is still in force for ALL CHRISTIANS.

The Gospel message should never focus on secrecy but on publicity. One of the most complimentary verses in all Scripture is Mark 16:20. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere…"

Each generation is the publicity department of the Kingdom. News of Jesus isn’t to be classified but publicized!

Dave Virkler