When
we take the time to search the Scriptures, it seems to become evident (at least
to me) that Jesus issues three calls to us that we must either heed or
otherwise disobey. Let's take a moment to consider each call and see where that
puts your relationship with Him?
The
first call is the call of CONVERSION. It is the call that the Savior issues to
each of us, living in our life of sin. He calls us to lay down our heavy burden
of sin and repent and believe on His name and the saving power that comes from
His shed blood at Calvary. We all know
that John 3:16 tells of God's great love for each of us...a love so great that
He gave His only Son as a sacrifice to take away the sins of the world.
However, it is John 3:17-18 that gives us a complete picture of God's love for
us and the consequences for rejecting His Son. It says, " For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only
Son." So
if you answer the call of Jesus to believe in Him and you do...YOU ARE SAVED
AND READY TO HEAR THE NEXT CALL.
The
second call from Jesus is the call of COMMITMENT...the call that puts you on
the front lines in the war that every true believer faces each day as they do
battle with the Deceiver, the Liar, the Evil One known as the Devil. Jesus
tells us in Matthew 10:38-39 "Whoever
does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever
finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will
find it." Jesus is calling all those who
believe to lay down what matters most to them and take up what matters most to
God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. And what is that you ask?
God
calls us to obedience which leads to holiness, sanctification and
justifications...and tunes our hearts to be like us as we seek to commit our
lives to live for Jesus. Yes, in our commitment to follow Jesus, we will do our
good works so that others might come to know our Heavenly Father and give to
Him the honor and glory He is due. A life that answers the call to commitment
is a life that lives in the abundance of the Father who will meet our every
need and be with in every situation.
And
the third call is the perhaps the most joyous of them all...it is the call to
COME HOME! Jesus told His disciples on many occasions that He had come to seek
and to save; but that He would not always be with them. He reminded them that
He must return to the Father...that He was going ahead to prepare a place for
them so that where He was, there they would be ALSO and ALWAYS. We need only
read Acts 1:8-9 to know that Christ's call will be to come with him. It says. "After he said this, he was taken up before
their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking
intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in
white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you
stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you
into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Yes,
some us may very well be living our abundant life when Christ comes to issue
His call to COME and receive our reward as we have lived out our lives as a
"good and faithful servant"; however, for many of us, we will receive
our call to COME as we close our eyes in death and take that step into eternity
and into the arms of our Savior....the One who is waiting just the other side
of this realm to welcome us home as we begin our FOREVER LIFE in continual
praise and service to our King of Kings...King Jesus!
So
where do you stand in hearing and answering the 3 calls of Jesus? Have you
called on Him for salvation? Have you answered the call to living a committed
life for Jesus? And most of all, are you eagerly awaiting and ready to hear His
call to come home? If you have not said "YES" to His first call, my
prayer today is that you will ...before He issues His third call to come and
stand before Him at the Great White Throne.
Without
Him, trust me...YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT THIRD CALL...for then it will be
too late to call on His name and be saved...don't put this off...
Today
He could issue His last and final call!
WPQ
Poem
for the day....
Today, Jesus is calling
To everyone who will hear;
He's pleading with your spirit
To let Him draw near.
To call on His atonement
And the blood He shed for you;
So that you would come to know
Him
And believe His word is true!
For He gave His life on Calvary's
tree...
He died and rose again;
So that everyone who believes in
Him
Will be saved from a life of sin.
So heed His call to follow Him
And live for Him each day;
For soon He will be coming back
To take us Home to stay!
WPQ © January 2019
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