Picture a family that lived the simple life of nomadic shepherding. They were grandparents, children and grandchildren numbering around seventy people in all, including servants. A famine forced them to leave the lands of their heritage and settle into a foreign land. Their traditions were established by a patriarch named Abraham who had long since gone to rest with his ancestors. This family was chosen by Almighty God to be His people; called for a special purpose.
In a world where everyone was pursing their own desires and making their own plans; God chose Abraham from among the heathen; from a family whose business was the manufacture and distribution of manmade gods. Idols for every occasion and every need were the craftsmanship of Abraham’s father and family. Then one day, God talked him. At the time his name was Abram, which the LORD Himself latter changed to Abraham. God told Abram, to pull up his stakes and go! He told Abram, “Get away from your family; start walking and I will show you where to go!” This was no ordinary man to drop everything; pack up his household and move into the wilderness to be directed by God. With his wife by his side he followed God into the unknown.
Genesis 12:1-3 KJV Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
When Abraham’s grandson Jacob was required to pull up stakes in a similar fashion; they too journeyed into the unknown. This was all part of a divine plan. These seventy some people all carried the standards and values that God had instilled in Abraham; worship of the one Almighty God and Him alone and observance of the Sabbath day. The promises given to Abraham also burned in their hearts; but the more they increased in numbers and generations; the more those promises faded as they became an enslaved people in Egypt. Four hundred and thirty years passed before their deliverance was given. The Israelites left Egypt as their ancestor Abram had done; walking into the wilderness to be led of God.
Exodus 12:40 KJV Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
It is no different for us today as God’s people. At some point you were called by God. He spoke to you and said forsake all and come follow me. Even if you were reared in a household of faith; there came a time when you had to answer the call. If you have not surrendered to God as Abraham did and as the Israelites did; leaving all behind to follow God; to follow Jesus Christ; then you truly are not the Christian that Jesus himself was calling when He called His New Testament people. Jesus’ call then is no different than His call today. He commanded total devotion; to be number one in the lives of His followers; then and now.
Matthew 8:21-22 ESV Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." (22) And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."
Luke 14:26 CEV You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life.
Israel left Egypt with a mixed multitude. These were not Israelites, but those who chose to go with them and to be with them.
Exodus 12:38 KJV And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
The Christian Church today has a mixed multitude. These are people who are pleased to fellowship with us and may even worship with us; but they take no responsibility for their calling in Christ. They profess Christ with their lips and follow the world with their feet. We are all known to God by our fruits, the works of our lives. We can fool the world around us, but God knows the heart.
God called Abraham out of pagan idolatry to a life of transformation into Holiness. We are called out this sinful world to be transformed into Christ; into Holiness! God accepts us as we are; but He doesn’t expect us to stay that way. We will have to account for what we have done with our calling and all that Christ has entrusted in our care. Some professing Christians will face damnation.
Matthew 25:30 KJV And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The church is not a social club to make us feel good. It is not a place that we go to for 45 minutes to an hour to appease a mythical god just incase he may be real and we don’t want to totally alienate him. Friends, I have known many congregations over my 52 years of life and my 38 years in Christian ministry; their numbers would total around 7,500 professing Christians. Less than 10 percent are actively living out their calling in Christ! Actively living out your calling means; tithing all of your resources; your time (2 ½ hours a day) as well as your money; plus giving on top of that. It means becoming the church, not just going to a building; it means living in a prayerful state, not just praying a; “lay me down to sleep prayer;” it means becoming the walking and breathing WORD of God and not just occasionally cracking the cover of your Bible.
The rewards are great and so must be our sacrifices. Most Christians treat salvation as something of little to no value. For houses, cars, recreational activities and sensual pleasures, people give their life’s blood! Jesus gave his life’s blood for you and for me. It is our reasonable service to give ours for Him. Become a living sacrifice for the LORD today; this moment, now.
Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING and into His courts with PRAISE. Lay your life on the ALTAR OF SACRIFICE and die to sin and the world. Be WASHED IN THE LAVER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS and EXAMINE YOUR REFLECTION in its pool. BEAT YOUR PRAYERS FINE and offer them up as SWEET INCENSE TO THE LORD. Enter the HOLY OF HOLIES and kneel before the throne of the LORD With Your Whole Heart, Life And Being. Do this with love, joy and peace IN THE BOLDNESS OF LIVING FAITHFULLY IN THE HOLY GHOST!
Time may be shorter for you than you think. The cemeteries are filled with people who knew not their hour. For them, Jesus Christ has already returned. Their lives are sealed in Christ or in damnation. The signs of the end time may be upon us. No one knows the hour of their own death and no one knows the hour of the LORD’s return. Live every moment ready for both and live life to its fullest in Christ now! Your salvation depends upon it.
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