“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” John 15:16
Dear Ones:
We know from a doctrinal standpoint, that man is born “dead.” What does this mean, and what bearing does it have on the subject of our calling? Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus: “And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins…” (2:1) In this chapter of this letter, he mentions the fact twice, that, “…we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened (made alive) us together with Christ.” (v.5) Why so much emphasis on this fact, and status of the individual? It is because of the absolute hopelessness and helplessness of the individual to LIVE, coming to God…to Christ, unless God moves upon the heart. It is as the hymn-writer explains man’s spiritual condition when he is physically born into this world. He is born into “nature’s night,” spiritual darkness and lifelessness, “without God and without hope in this world.” It is then, in such dire straights, that God, in His mercy, because of His great love for us, takes the initiative, and shines into our hearts, revealing Himself by the truth of the gospel. God takes the initiative to shine into the darkened cell of our spiritual existence, calling the soul to come forth and live. The resurrection of Lazarus is a picture of a man who died, ceased to live, had been put into a grave, never to come forth until the resurrection. It will be as the Lord instructs Martha to have the stone moved at the entrance to the grave, and His consequent call to Lazarus to “come forth,” that we see the miracle of a person who was dead, come to life. In the same way, we see how God in His mercy, speaks to that which is dead, in order to bring it to life, spiritual life.
In the book of Ezekiel, we find a picture of how God viewed Israel, specifically Jerusalem, as being in a state of “death,” and dying (continuing in that state.) It is also a picture of His love, and the initiative He takes to save the hopeless in their helplessness. He declares: “…in the day thou wast born…none eye pitied thee,… to have compassion on thee; but thou was cast out in the open field, …When I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, ….I said unto thee…when thou wast in thy blood, ‘LIVE.'” (16:4,5,6) God sees us in our desperate, helpless need…has compassion on us, and then speaks “Life into the dead,” by calling us, drawing us, convicting us…bringing us to a knowledge of Him by which we can believe, and surrender all to Him. His intent is perfect, His motive is nothing less than the pure love from heaven, and His heart. There is but one way for the lost sinner to truly “live,” and it is by Him speaking to the heart.
Why do we consider the matter of one’s calling, in speaking of the lost condition of man, and the mercy of God to save him? It is because the calling of the believer, and him being ordained by God with a purpose, is no light matter. It too is a miracle. Just as Christ calls the dead to live, so He calls that the living to know Him, and to serve. The question then becomes, “Is it the will of God that I know, not only that I am His, but also, what He has created and redeemed me for?” How can we possibly doubt the intent, will, and purpose of God, with respect to this question. The same God who is not willing that any should perish, is WILLING that all who are saved, KNOW the essence of their calling. “If any man is will do His will, He shall know…” (Jn. 7:17) “Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24) If we are willing to know what our calling is, and be assured of it, He is willing to reveal it to us.
Dear Father, work in us the willing and the doing of Your good pleasure. Open our eyes to see our calling, with crystal clear conviction. We thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Love, Dad