"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
(Romans 1:20 ESV)
I cannot read this truth enough. I struggled with the idea of... "a calling". That is ...knowing if, what, or when God has called me to... something, anything! Catch-phrases and church-speak, though surely well intended, often create confusion. Too, we (the recipient) must take some blame for this confusion ...and each individual, to be sure, must take responsibility for his own thoughts and understandings. A mentor once summed it up for me. He said... "You are not called to a vocation, or to be this or that. This is God calling you back to Himself." I grew to understand that what he was saying was... whatever we do, and by what means we do them, are free choices God has given us. True for both redeemed and the lost. Faith in Him "drives" our decision of "why" we do!
Whatever else, whatever to-dos, or things we conclude God has asked us to ...there is a most basic calling on each of us. BELIEVE! With belief, through faith, our journey begins.
I love what Paul expresses in his letter to the church in Rome. There is simply no good excuse not to believe, in this most basic way. Just open the front door and look around. Yes, there is war, and rumor of war. There are homeless, sick, needy. Yet.... consider what just happened in your body. You took a breath, then exhaled it. PRAISE GOD! This is what Paul was expressing! He wasn't being rude, or snarky. Simply saying... come on folks... be reasonable! Who is the base cause of that breath? I can find no excuse. Awesome, mighty, living, loving, Creator, God! And when we take our final breath ...know this too, is in God's ultimate plan. Paul also stated this perfectly. " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 ESV)
Know, believe, Jesus.
Steve Terrell
