He is calling . . .

 

We took Dad to a specialist to have his hearing tested. During the examination, my mom said that she often talked to him and he didn’t respond, as if he didn’t hear her at all. My Dad, with his usual twinkle, said to the doctor, “Don’t you do that to your wife too?”

Everyone laughed, yet this is a frustration for many wives. I wonder about the emotions of Almighty God who CALLS people to Himself or calls His people to a special task and we don’t listen very well.

I’ve studied God’s call before, yet my to-do list sometimes overwhelms me usually because some items are not God-given. I need to continually reconsider what God is calling me to do, otherwise, I wind up spinning my wheels.

First, God’s call goes out in the message of the gospel to all people regardless of their skin color, belief system and nationality. Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” and in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” All is prominent in both verses.

However, this universal call is not always responded to; rejection happens. Matthew 22:14 tells of the division: “For many are called, but few are chosen” and John 3:16–20 tells why this happens:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

Second, what makes this call effective is more than merely hearing it, even more than agreeing it is true. It goes deeper because the Holy Spirit effectively enlightens and sanctifies those God is calling. He enables them to receive the truth. Jesus says, “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” He also said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him . . . “ (John 6:44)

People need to hear the gospel message yet Holy Spirit is a necessary translator who makes that message effective. Acts 16:14 tells of Lydia who worshiped God yet when Paul shared the gospel, “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said.”  

Acts 26:18 also explains the need of the Holy Spirit so hearers “may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith.”

Paul also asked “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” to give the Ephesians “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” to enlighten their hearts so they would “know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

Third, those who accept this call begin a relationship with the Lord and can also be called to a special task. This is true in both OT and NT.

Exodus 31:2–7. “See, I have called by name Bezalel . . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab . . . . And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent.”

Acts 13:2. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Not only does the Lord call His people to work, He also calls us to rest, even says that the work He has for me is not burdensome: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30) This takes me back to re-examine my to-do list on His terms and trust Him to lighten my load!

 

What to do about Jesus?

This week, I watched Dr. Billy Graham’s funeral. Several things touched me. One was the reading of a poem wife wrote at age 14. It was her prayer to God for the kind of man she wanted to marry. She wasn’t interested in appearance or money or much else except that she wanted him to be a godly man. Years later, she met Graham, the exact answer to her prayers.

His family and many others paid tribute to this evangelist’s life and message. His son Franklin spoke the main message. He sounded much like his father as he preached the plain gospel to thousands in attendance. Many were Christian leaders. Others were friends, family and government officials, including the president and vice president of the United States and their wives.

As I listened, I wondered how those hearing this strong and clear message about Jesus would respond. Would they say YES to faith in Jesus Christ, or would they have the same attitude of the crowd more than 2000 years ago when challenged by the same question:

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” (Matthew 27:22)

Tozer says, “The gospel is the official proclamation that Christ died for us and is risen again, with the added announcement that everyone who will believe . . . will cast in his lot with Christ in full and final committal, shall be saved eternally.”

Those who do so might gain favor for a time, but like Jesus, will not be popular. The pattern will follow what happened to our Savior. We will be “admired by many, loved by a few and rejected at last by the majority of men.” As Franklin said, if anyone is not willing to pay this price, Christ has nothing more to say to that person now, but He will speak again in judgment.

The question for every person is the same: what will you do with Jesus? Some do not know His name. Some know it only as a curse word. Some were raised with it but turned away. Some, like me, knew about Him but sat on the fence for a long time, not fully aware of who He really is or what He had done for me.

Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

A few will hear and respond with YES and become new creations by grace through faith. This is as Tozer called it; the Christ question. Our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ is the turning point of every life.

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Lord Jesus, I am 100% for You, and deeply joyful that when You called, You did it in such a way that there was no other answer in my mind but YES. Thank You. It is the desire of my heart, and in the hearts of every one of Your people that the world will hear the Gospel and that all who hear will respond and receive forgiveness and eternal life — available to all because of You.