Your Calling Is More Than Holding A Ticket To Ride

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” —2 Timothy 1:8-10

“…. who has saved us and called us with a holy calling ….” I think most Christians can easily embrace the idea of salvation. John 3:16 and all that, but where most struggle is with the idea of a holy calling.  It is easy to think of preachers or missionaries as being called, and they are, called that is, but so is every other Christian.  We use the phrases, “vocational ministry” or “full time Christian service” when the fact is that all Christians are servants – full time. There are a few books, in addition to the Word of God, that have proven to be instrumental in my view toward my new life in Christ.  One of those books is “The Call” by Os Guiness.  He wrote, “calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to His summons and service.”

“…. do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Salvation is so much more than a mere ticket to ride the heaven bound train. Being born again spiritually is the beginning of eternal life with God, certainly, but it is so much more. It is stepping into God’s purpose for you and for me. A purpose established at the beginning. God knew us before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs.  The question is, are we willing to fulfill that purpose.  Will we embrace our call to service. Or, will we merely acknowledge Jesus on the Cross, the salvation we have by faith and then move on with living life the best we can until we breath our last.

Listen, my point here is that we must live each day with a Christ-awareness and hearts fully devoted to God. My point is to encourage you to be faithful to your calling – no matter where that may find you – that you don’t have to be a preacher, teacher, or missionary to fulfill your call.  I recently watched an Indiana Jones movie (for the umpti-umpth time) – the one about Indy’s search for the Holy Grail.  The thing was the cup (Grail) was not the one with the most jewels or made from a precious metal – it was a common cup.  God uses what seems common to man for His glory and eternal purposes. Somebody like me or you.  Back to John 3:16.  God so loved “you” that Jesus died on the cross for “you”. You think of yourself as of no importance to God? That you have no place in the eternal story of redemption? Think again my friend!

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone