The Call

During the days of the fallout shelters and regular atom bomb drills in all the schools, there was a joke that went around. It seems that “the bomb” had finally been used and there was a man who had escaped destruction. He searched the world over, looking for anyone else who might have survived, but found no one. Deciding that he did not want to live out his life alone, the man climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and jumped off. As he was falling past an open window on the 53^rd floor, he heard the ringing of a phone.

Genesis 12

¹Then the LORD told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. ²I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. ³I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you."

Abram was a wealthy man. He had accumulated significant assets in the form of livestock, silver and gold, and servants as well as family who lived with him. When he was seventy-five years old, God came to him and called him out of his native land. He was to leave his comfort zone – his country, his family, his home – and start on a journey without knowing where it would end. The only thing he had to go on was the fact that he knew the One Who was calling.

Two facts about Abram and his calling bear examination. First of all, Abram was not sitting around, waiting for God to call. He was busy taking care of business – and God was blessing him. He was doing the best he could with the situations and resources God put at his disposal. The circumstances that Abram experienced were designed to prepare him for the next step, and he took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. Even though he had not received “the call,” Abram was right where God wanted him to be. The second fact from this passage is that Abram was called out of a circumstance that was good. He was very comfortable where he was. Then God called him. God told him what He was going to do, but not necessarily how or when or where He was going to do it. All Abram knew was that God had called and told him to pack up and go.

Abraham chose to follow God's call. It wasn't as if God had given him a set of blueprints and told him to build. God didn't give him a printout of a MapQuest map with all the routes colored in. Abraham had no idea where he was going, but he knew exactly how to get there. How could that be? Abraham knew that he had a Guide and all he had to do was follow the Guide's instructions. So Abraham packed up family, farm, and "forever" memories and headed out.

Today’s church must listen to the lessons of Abram. We are called to do our part in the Kingdom’s work, and as we grow in Christ and learn from the experiences and opportunities God gives us, we will be given a different part to play or a different place to work. We must be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit while we are active in the performance of our ministry. Even if we are called to move physically or programmatically, we must continue to accomplish God’s mission for His church. It is not important that we know all the details – it is imperative that we follow the Leader.

Regardless of the situations and circumstances, we must continue to give our time, talent, and treasure; minister to the body; and spread the Good News. God calls His people to do many things, but one thing God will never call us to do is stop reaching people for Him.

We serve an awesome God!!!!!