I began this series saying “It’s Kingdom Building Time” and
conclude it with “God is looking for talent” He can press into service to
enlarge and speed completion of His kingdom—“For
the eyes of the Lord run to and from throughout the whole earth, to show
Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (II
Chronicles 16:9a). This verse is written
in what is called the “present active” tense meaning He is still searching for
persons who will make themselves available to Him for life’s highest
service. In submitting to such a “call”,
persons actually fulfill the purpose for which they were created. In the prophet Jeremiah’s case, this call was
“issued” while he was still in his mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). And inasmuch as “. . .God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34b), there is probably a
great many who have been “called” of God from the womb.
Isaiah’s “call” was of a different sort. First, he had a vision of the Lord. . .”sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and
the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). Then he experienced being “undone” because he
was a man of unclean lips dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips
(see Isaiah 6:5). Next came his purging
by an angel applying a live coal from the heavenly altar and touched Isaiah’s
mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has
touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged (atoned
for)” (Isaiah 6:7).
Immediately after this life-changing, purging exercise,
Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom
shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). And it was done.
For Moses his “call” formally began with his turning aside
to see a burning bush which was not consumed.
Samuel was placed into the Lord’s service by a mother who
was desperate to have a child and agreed to present this man-child unto the
Lord were the Lord to be gracious to give her such a son. He would usher in the monarchy.
While attending sheep David was anointed by Samuel,
ultimately, to be king over Israel and become the prototype of the Eternal
King, even Jesus.
The “calls” of God as related in the Scriptures are many and
varied and none more simple than that of Jesus calling the disciples saying, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men” (Matthew 4:19).
These persons responded positively to God’s “call”, what of
those who don’t? or, more precisely what
happens when persons refuse their “call”?
Hear the plaintive cry of the Lord in Ezekiel’s mouth, “So I sought for a man among them who would
make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I
should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on
them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their
deeds on their own heads,” ‘says the Lord God’ (Ezekiel 22:30).
In a word the consequence is destruction.
But lest anyone should think God’s “call” is optional hear
these ominous words also from Ezekiel.
Though specifically given to Ezekiel this exhortation speaks as a
challenge to all “witnesses”: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the
house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning
from me: When I say to the wicked ‘You
shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked
from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his
iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand”(Ezekiel
3:17,18). Will you heed the “call”?
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