Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Calling

Can you imagine getting a call with an offer for your dream job?  It would be such a rush to name your salary, pick out your company car, and otherwise thoroughly enjoy all the perks.  Of course, that probably isn't going to happen and even if it did, it wouldn't bring happiness.  Some of the most miserable people in the world are the most wealthy.  I've seen poor Hondurans and Indians smile just as brightly as the most spoiled American kid on Christmas morning.  Money and things do not guarantee happiness.  If so, Americans would be deliriously joyful...we are among the top 20% of the wealthiest people on the planet.  No, money can't buy happiness.

The wealthiest man that ever lived was named Solomon.  Even he complained that chasing wealth (and many other things!) was like chasing the wind.  Of course, God has given us many gifts.  In Ephesians Paul refers to God's offer as 'a calling' (Ephesians 4:1).  What that word means is simply, an invitation.
It's an invitation to a feast or a marriage, according to Jesus' teachings.  To Paul it was an offer of adoption.
God planned in advance, before the world was even formed to adopt us into his family, through Christ
(Ephesians 1:4-5).  We are called to family!  This family has a Father, a brother and comes complete with a promise of God's Spirit to live within us.  Read the first three chapters of Ephesians.  God's calling is so much greater than any job or career.  God calls us to life!

And we get to choose.  We must choose.  Can you imagine turning that dream job down?  Not many would, but sadly, most will not choose to accept God's offer.  Remember Jesus' words about the narrow gate and the wide gate?  Many will rush down that wide road, looking for happiness in the world and they will instead find destruction.  A few will choose the narrow path, looking for happiness in God's calling.  And they will find it.  An eternity full of it.

We are being called, invited...will you choose life?  Family?  It isn't too late!

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