Our Precious Calling

Thank you again, Mr. Benedict. It was his calling in life. I'm sure you've all heard that expression in reference to perhaps an artist, maybe a ballplayer, a musician, a brain surgeon, a scientist, a president, a general, or a king. It was his calling. It was his calling in life. Well, brethren, what about your calling? And also, what about our calling? Because we have a calling very much in common. We are all called to be true Christians who are now living in these last days. We are all called to be first-fruits. That is our precious calling. We do have something tremendous in common. It is our calling.

When I was 18 years old, I was coming to grips with that reality that God was actually calling me, that he was drawing me. It took me a while to realize what was happening. I was quite young. I was full of life. I was looking forward to life's challenges. But I didn't really know all that much about the real meaning of life. I really didn't have a clue as to what direction my life would take at that time at 18. I was looking for answers to life's most important questions at that time, but I didn't even realize it. I didn't know it, and perhaps you were much like I was. I began to ask the question, why was I born? What was my purpose in life? Is there really a God who created me in His image? Was Jesus Christ really who I heard He was, a Savior who died for me and was then resurrected to life and now sits at the very right hand of God the Father? Was Christ really going to come again? Was He going to bring salvation with Him when He came? Was He going to bring salvation for me? What did the Bible have to say about all this? Could I even believe the Bible? Could I stake my life on what was written in the Bible? I had grown up a Methodist. I went to church pretty regularly with my mother, with my brothers and sisters, but frankly I didn't find answers to life's most important questions in the Methodist Church. That's not where I discovered the most important, most precious thing in my life. I don't believe I was being called to the Methodist Church. I realized it was also not just my calling at this time, but again it was our calling because I realized there were others who were getting the same precious calling that I was. I wasn't alone. So brethren, how should we view our precious calling? You and me. How should we look at this calling that God is giving each and every one of us? Let's go to Matthew 22. Let's realize that we are all being called. Matthew 22. This is the parable of the wedding feast. Matthew 22, verse 1, Jesus answered, and he spoke to them again by parables, and he said, The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. And he sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding. Notice the word call. To call them to the wedding, and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants saying, Tell those who are invited, invited or called, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready, come to the wedding.

But they made light of it. They made light of the invitation. They made light of the calling. And they went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and even killed them. But when the king heard about it, of course, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, and he destroyed those murderers, and he burned up their city. And then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

Those who were called were not worthy. Let's continue reading a bit. Verse 9, Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.

He was not properly dressed. So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him a hand and foot, take him away, cast him into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for many are called, but few are chosen. Well, we actually learned quite a bit from this particular parable. According to Strong's Concordance, the word called that's used in this parable is the Greek word kleitos. It means to be invited or to be appointed.

It's derived from the root word klesis, a Greek word k-l-e-s-i-s. And according to Thayer's Greek lexicon of the New Testament, this word called means invited to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God through Christ. It also means called to some office, divinely selected and appointed. It is derived from a root that is used of one whom God declares worthy of the calling which He has commanded to be given Him, and therefore fit to obtain the blessings promised in the call.

What made the people fit to attend the wedding feast? First of all, they had to be willing to accept the invitation. Many are not willing to accept the invitation. The Bible clearly says that many are called, but few are chosen. Secondly, they also had to wear proper garments for the wedding feast. They weren't allowed to just come as you are. There are popular songs about coming as you are, but God doesn't want us to come just as we are. God wants us to make some changes in our lives.

God wants us to keep His commandments and begin doing those things that are pleasing in His sight. So they were not allowed to come just as they are, but they were expected to prepare themselves and then to behave appropriately. The word chosen, again in this parable, is the Greek word eklectos. It means elect or select, and refers here to a divine selection.

God is the one that is selecting those whom He is calling and certainly also those who He chooses to be a part of His kingdom and His family as firstfruits. According to Thayer's Greek lexicon of the New Testament, the word chosen means chosen by God to obtain eternal salvation again through Christ. Those who have become true partakers of Christian salvation are contrasted to those who were invited but who have not shown themselves fit to obtain it. Another Greek word, kalein, is a verb which means to call or it's translated to call.

The word clisis, k-l-e-s-i-s, is a noun, and I'm going to stop all these Greek words here in a moment, but it means, klesis is a noun which means a call, and then kleitos is an adjective translated call. So all of these words are very closely related. They come from the same root word, the same Greek root word. And there are three main usages of these words, all of which will give us a better understanding of what our calling is all about.

So let's talk about three main usages of these words. Number one, these words are used in regards to summoning or calling a person to an office, to a task, to a responsibility, to a reward, and also to an accounting. So let me go through those again. You might want to write those down. A person is being called to an office, to a task, to a responsibility, to a reward, and also to an accounting. In Matthew 25, many of us are quite familiar with this parable.

It's the parable of the talents. For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. And to each, according to his own ability, and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents.

He was wise in how he invested those talents that he was given. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his Lord's money. And after a long time, the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Look, I've gained five more talents besides them. His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. And he also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents. And look what I've done. I've gained two more. Verse 23, As Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. Then you had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, gathering seed where you had not scattered. And I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. And look, there you have what is yours. But as Lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown.

You knew that I gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away and cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. Obviously, the key is that God wants us to do something with the abilities that he's given us. He wants us to gain five more talents or two more talents or at least something. Gain something. Grow and gain.

So we need to be profitable servants. We are called to be profitable servants. That is certainly a part of our calling. We are to be overcomers, as the Scripture clearly says, that we are to put sin out of our lives. We are to grow in grace and in knowledge. So again, these these words about being called out of this world, we are called to an office, a task, a responsibility, a reward, and also an accounting. We will be held accountable for this calling that God gives us. There will be a reward that comes with that calling, a tremendous reward. There will be a responsibility to do something with this calling that we've been given. We have a task to perform. We have an office to fulfill. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, we see that Paul was called to be an apostle. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Let's take a look at that for a moment. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Paul writes 1 Corinthians, and he says Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, a messenger, one who was sent forth. Paul was to be a chosen vessel by God. God clearly plucked him as he was going toward Damascus. Remember that? He struck him down on the road to Damascus, and he began to work in his life. Paul was one who had persecuted the Christians. Now he was a follower of Christ, and he was an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Verse 2. To the church of God, which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified, which means set apart, sanctified, called of God, set apart, in Christ Jesus, called to be saints. There's that word again. Called to be saints. We are all called to be saints. A saint is one who is sanctified, one who has been set apart for a divine purpose, a divine calling. With all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, so we are also to call upon God. God is calling us, but we have to respond. We have to call back, you might say. We have to respond to what God is doing in our lives, both theirs and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 4. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God, which was given to you by Christ Jesus. So Paul was called to be an apostle. The brethren were called to be saints, those who were sanctified and set apart for a divine purpose, a responsibility, a task.

We are going to be held accountable, as was already mentioned. We will be held accountable. We will need to give an account. Brethren, it is under adversity that our calling and our character is proven. So we should not expect an easy life. We shouldn't expect a life that has no challenges. We should expect a difficult life. And I know many of us have experienced that far more than we would like, I'm sure. It is under adversity that our calling and our character is proven. Some years ago, rescue swimmer Joseph Fleith commented about Hurricane Katrina. He said, Hurricane Katrina really brought out what a Coast Guard rescue swimmer is because we were plastered all over the national media. You may remember seeing pictures of rescues.

It was the Coast Guard rescue swimmers that you saw go down to the roofs, pulling people out of their homes. We were all working 18 to 24 hour days. We were working around the clock. We were pushing ourselves to the limit. Helicopter pilot Nevada Smith comments, I've been flying for over 10 years and Katrina was always this theoretical fictional story that everyone had in their minds. What if we had to save 33,000 people? And sure enough, that's what the Coast Guard ended up doing. They saved 33,000 people who were stranded because of Hurricane Katrina. Bob Watson briefly talks about the moving nature of a rescue. He says there's nothing like looking at their face when you're helping them out of the water. Their eyes are this big and you get to help them. That's a cool thing. As other scenes of rescues are shown, rescue swimmer John Hall concludes, I have volunteered to put myself in harm's way for somebody that I don't know.

So I'd better be ready when that call comes in, because that's my calling. As far as I'm concerned and I don't take it lightly and I never shortcut it, the Coast Guard rescue swimmer's motto is, so others may live. So some of these rescue swimmers, they certainly felt a calling that they were being called to do this type of work. And during Hurricane Katrina, it was very valuable work indeed, and they were proven at that time.

Certainly we will be proven throughout the course of time as God continues to draw us to Him and make us accountable to Him. In the book of Jude, let's go to Jude as we again talk about our calling. And again, it isn't just your calling, it isn't just my calling, but it really is our calling. We are all called together at this time to be firstfruits.

Jude 1. Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.

To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.

So this is written to those who are called. It's written to you, it's written to me, those who are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus.

Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Verse 3, Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, that is something that we all have in common, we have the same salvation in common, the same Messiah, the same Savior, the same Lord and Master, the same God, our Father. I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly, for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints, again those who are called out and chosen by God, for certain men have crept in unnoticed. Now, Mr. Libby talked about those who would preach heresy. Certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turned the grace of our God into lewdness. And so we live in a world, even a religious world, where the religious people believe God's law has been done away, that we don't have to really keep all of God's commandments and laws, that we just need to love each other, and we don't have to worry about any type of law. But that is not the message of the Bible. It's not what God tells us. Sure, we are to learn what love is, and love is a keeping of the commandments. The commandments are not burdensome to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. So some will come in, ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. That is heresy. When people speak contrary to God's holy word, the Bible. So, brethren, we are all called for salvation. That's why God is calling us. He is in the process of saving each and every one of us right now. This is our day of salvation. It's your day of salvation. It's my day of salvation. We're not going to have another opportunity. We're not going to have another chance. This is our chance. This is our calling.

If God's opened your mind and you've listened to that call, you've been baptized, you've received the Spirit of God, then certainly judgment has become upon the house of God. And you are a member of the house of God. We are now being judged whether or not we are faithful. We are being taken into account. There are two statues in Washington, D.C. that together tell a remarkable story. One is the massive memorial to General Ulysses S. Grant. It stands at the east end of the reflecting pool, literally in the morning shadow of the U.S. Capitol Building. Visitors can hardly miss this majestic depiction of the legendary General atop his war stallion. You may have seen it. Some of you have no doubt seen it in person. Grant's military leadership was decisive to the Union's victory in the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was finally able to get a man who could do the job. He is considered a symbol. Grant is considered a symbol of the force of human will, an icon of the strong man who stands against the storm when all others have shrunk back.

Some two and a half miles away, in a pleasant but nondescript city park, there stands a more commonplace memorial. It is the statue of this lesser-known Civil War figure Major General John Rollins. Maybe you've never even heard of John Rollins. But Rollins actually, his statue, had been moved eight different times, eight different locations. It's hardly ever noticed by visitors.

Rollins had been a lawyer in Galena, Illinois, where Grant lived just prior to the war.

He became Grant's chief of staff. They were friends. They knew each other in Galena, Illinois. Rollins knew Grant's character flaws as well. He knew some of his frailties, especially his weakness for alcohol. Probably most of you have heard that General Ulysses S. Grant was an alcoholic. He had a huge problem with alcohol. At the beginning of the war, Rollins extracted a pledge from Grant to abstain from drunkenness.

And when the general threatened to fall away from that promise, his friend would plead with him and support him until Grant could get back on track. So Grant would sometimes get off the track, he would begin to drink, he would become drunken, and it was Rollins who would bring him back. In many ways, it was Rollins who stood beside the seemingly solitary figure of Grant, the great general. Rollins' memorial is modest compared to the mounted, glory-afforded Grant on the big steed. Yet without his unheralded love and support, Grant would hardly have managed even to climb into the saddle. He would have been too drunk to get up on that horse. This comes from an article, The Masculine Mandate, written in 2010 by Richard D. Phillips. It's on page 121 and 122.

So here was a man who was not so well known, and yet he had a calling. And his calling was to be there for the general to help him with his flaws, to help him overcome. So people are called for different reasons, for different purposes. I guess it's our job to find out exactly what our calling is all about, what God expects of us, what he wants us to do. So that first point about these words in regard to our calling, again, these words are used in regards to summoning, or calling a person to an office, to a task, a responsibility, a reward, and also an accounting. Secondly, these words are used for inviting a person to a meal or a banquet, or into one's house as a guest. It is a hospitable invitation to enjoy fellowship.

It is a privilege to be invited. So let's go to Revelation 19, verse 9, as we talk about our calling and what it means. Another aspect of our calling, Revelation 19.

Verse 9, Revelation 19, verse 9, Then he who said to me, write, Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

We believe that we are called to marry Christ at His return, that we are among the firstfruits who will marry Christ. We are guests who are invited to the wedding feast. In fact, we have a very prominent role at the wedding feast.

Also, wedding crashers are not going to be allowed at this particular wedding.

We are invited by God Himself to become a part of this wonderful marriage to take place when Christ marries the church.

It says, These are the true sayings of God. Have you thought very much about your calling to become the bride of Christ? I believe we talked about this on the Feast of Trumpets. I talked about the ancient wedding and what it meant and how we are now betrothed to Christ to become the bride of Christ. We have been invited to this wonderful wedding feast, not just as a guest but a real participant to become a part of that wedding supper, to become a part of the wedding as the bride of Christ. And then a third aspect of these words that are translated called, calling to call, these words are used in summoning also into the law courts.

They are used for citing a witness or defendant to appear before a judge.

They are used when a man is to stand trial and to give an account. In Acts 24, we'll see that Paul was called or summoned before Felix. Acts 24, verse 2.

Acts 24, verse 2, And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying, Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accepted always and in all places most noble Felix with all thankfulness.

Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hereby your courtesy a few words from us. For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. So Paul was being called before the judge. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him and wanted to judge him according to our law. Of course, these were trumped-up charges against Paul. But the commander, Lysias, came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself, you may ascertain all these things in which we accuse him. Undoubtedly, there will be many who will be accused in the future. They will be certainly accused wrongly in many instances. We will all be held accountable for what we believe in. Some of us will be falsely charged. Some of us, no doubt, will be charged for what we truly do believe in. Christ, of course, was crucified, and he was falsely accused. He was also accused of things that he did, that he was very pleased to do because they pleased God. So this shows that Paul was called before the judge. He was summoned before Felix to face the Jewish prosecutors.

In 1 Peter 4, again, it shows that judgment has begun at the house of God. And all of us are being called now to give an account. I know that this isn't something that we take lightly.

I'm sure it's something that you've thought about quite a bit.

You've dedicated your life to this way of life, and you're willing to die for it.

1 Peter 4, verse 7.

But the end of all things is at hand. This is what Peter is writing. He knew that his time was short.

Undoubtedly, he also believed that everyone's time was short. He didn't think it was going to last another 2,000 years. But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things, have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. These are Peter's last words, or at least close to the very last words that he was to share with God's people.

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another. As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Verse 12, Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. Sometimes we find it strange that we're having such difficulty, but really the Bible tells us that as Christ was persecuted, as Christ was tested, we will also be tested, we will be persecuted in different ways, we will be tested in various ways, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reposed for the name of Christ, blessed are you. For the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer, or as a busybody or a gossip in other people's matters, yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. We should not be ashamed if we suffer as Christians, but let him glorify God in this matter, for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. Of course, this was written roughly 2,000 years ago, and judgment has begun at the house of God. The New Testament church was raised up at Pentecost back nearly 2,000 years ago, and judgment has begun at the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? We are called to obey God's truth, God's good news. We are called to obey the gospel of God to be faithful to this gospel. So judgment has begun at the house of God. It's been going on for 2,000 years, and actually even before that, for those like David and Joshua and Caleb, those who receive the Spirit of God, those who are mentioned in Hebrews 11 in the faith chapter, their calling was at that time they had to give an account.

Kristen Strand writes from an article in Leadership magazine following a tough call, she says, So I hope that we can all have that peace and that satisfaction that comes when we are tested and tried. Sometimes when we're depressed or we're angry, we're frustrated, we're lonely.

I hope we can all feel that foundation that God gives us that seizes through those difficult emotions, those difficult feelings.

This is a tough call, you might say. It is a tough call. We are set apart, we're different, our children learn to be different in many ways because they are different in that they are striving to obey God and follow Him. In Acts 13, again we talk about our calling, let's go to Acts 13.

The Jews were the first to be called of God, they were the chosen people of God, men and women who were called out and chosen by God. But then salvation was open to the Gentiles.

In Acts 13, verse 48.

Now when the Gentiles heard this, let's read verse 47 as well, For so the Lord has commanded us, I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

We know that there is salvation in Christ for both the Jew and the Gentile, for all people who will respond to God's calling. Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

You see, they were called out, they were appointed, they were invited to eternal life.

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. This was back shortly after that day of Pentecost, when God poured out His Spirit, God's word was being spread throughout all the region.

Of course, there would be great opposition, and for the most part, that gospel message would be stamped out until actually this century, in large part, that we have had free access as the gospel has gone out to the world. But when these Gentiles heard, it says they were glad and they glorified the word of the Lord. They understood their calling. They understood that they had been appointed to eternal life. We have all been appointed to eternal life. Now is again our day of salvation. This is the time when we will prove whether or not we are worthy to be given eternal life. We know that it is God who deems us worthy as He looks on our hearts, as He sees that we have a repentant heart and we have a repentant mind. It's not that we're perfect. It's not that we keep His commandments perfectly, but we have a heart to keep His commandments. And when we fall short, it hurts. It bothers us. It drives us to our knees and we seek repentance. We ask God to forgive us and to help us walk more faithfully with Him.

This is our calling. It's your calling. It's my calling. It is a high and a holy calling, as it's described in the Bible. Let's go to 2 Timothy chapter 1.

2 Timothy chapter 1, it says we are called with a holy calling. We know that God is holy, that Christ is holy, and that we are to become like God and like Christ.

2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 8, 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.

We're not called because of our greatness, because of our works. What we can do, what we can accomplish of and by ourselves, that's not why God calls us. In fact, we know He's called the weak and the foolish of the world, that He might confound those who are mighty.

So we are not called according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. So we really shouldn't try to second-guess why God called us. It says He called the weak and the foolish. That should be sufficient. He called us according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Even before time began, before everything was created, this physical universe, even before all that, God determined to call people, human beings. It was part of His plan, even before He set the physical universe into motion. Verse 10, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death. So how did Christ abolish death? He abolished death by dying, by being crucified and then also being resurrected to eternal life. He gave gives us victory over death because the wages of sin is death. And that's what we all deserve. We all deserve death.

That's what we've earned. We've earned death. But Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the good news, through the gospel.

He says, "...to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." Paul was a chosen vessel to the Gentiles. He also went to the house of Israel as well, but he was a chosen vessel for the Gentiles. "...For this reason I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he that Christ is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day." There's a song that uses these words. We've all sung these words, I'm sure.

"...He is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day, until the return of Christ.

We are kept in good stead because God keeps us.

He protects us. He has given us an earnest, a down payment of His Spirit.

We are sanctified and set apart by His Spirit. So we are called with a high and a holy calling, and it should excite us.

We should be very excited about our calling. In fact, there shouldn't be anything that's even close in regard to what we're excited about. I mean, this should be so far above everything else.

You know, I used to live by an old man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was in his 80s, and he had these beagles. And he loved these beagles.

And in his 80s, he would once in a while take them out to go hunting for rabbits.

And he would begin to cry when he would tell me about his dogs and how they would begin to bark in symphony as they were chasing rabbits. It was their calling in life.

He would get so excited about these dogs who would bark in symphony together as they were hunting rabbits. I know it seems odd, but this was one of the things that probably got him more excited than anything else, is listening to his dogs on the hunt. To him, it was a special calling that these dogs had and that he recognized. And it was really moving to me to see how excited he would get. And one day, he was out hunting with his dogs, and he never came home.

And his wife came to me and said, you know, he hasn't come home. I don't know where he is.

He'd been out all night long. He'd gotten disoriented. And I guess he ended up in someone's shed and spent the night in the shed. So I found him the next day as we were hunting for him. And it didn't seem to faze him all that much. He was happy to have been out there with his dogs. Well, to me, it's just incredible that people can get excited about those sorts of things to the point of tears. We have a calling that should truly get us very, very excited about what God is doing in our lives. And I know we do. I know that we are excited about what God is doing in our lives. In Ephesians 4, Paul beseeches us here to walk worthy of our calling. Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4, verse 1, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness. Notice the things that are most important. It's our humility that is important with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, with patience, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. You know, these are not just words that we ought to read over.

Take lightly, because these are very, very important words. God wants us to live by these words.

We are to be seeking unity and peace. That's what God wants. He doesn't want us to be squabbling and fighting and complaining and arguing about hardly anything, really.

He wants us to learn to seek peace and to seek unity. He says there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all.

Paul says that we are to walk worthy of the calling that God is giving to us.

We are to walk in the Spirit, as we've talked about in sermons not long ago.

We are to learn to produce the fruit of God's Holy Spirit.

God wants us to walk worthy of our calling.

He says, I beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. God does not wait helplessly for any human being to choose Him or to make a decision to accept Him. That's what a lot of churches preach. Some denominational churches teach that the sovereign creator of the universe, the Maker of all creation, is spreadfully rearing His hands. He's waiting patiently for each individual human being to decide to believe.

But, of course, according to the Bible, that's just not the way it is. God isn't calling most people yet.

He really isn't. He's not opening most people's minds. He's only opening a very small minority of people at this time.

He's calling quite a few. Many are called. But even then, few are chosen.

Very few are chosen.

Again, now is not the only day of salvation. Others will be called, and those who do not respond to their calling now, for the most part, will have an opportunity to respond later on.

But those who do respond now, of course, they will be held accountable.

It is their day of salvation, and anyone who has been enlightened by the Spirit of God and turns against it, then they are in judgment of the lake of fire.

They are in danger of the lake of fire, God says.

In many ways, it's a wonderful blessing to be called now, but also we are called to a task, to an office, to a responsibility, and we will be held accountable for our calling. So it is important that we talk about our calling on a regular basis, that we consider it, that we are dedicated to fulfilling this calling, this task that God has given us, to remain faithful, to be faithful until Christ returns.

It says the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God will not revoke the gifts that He gives us.

God won't take His Spirit away unless we give it up, unless we reject Him.

God is not going to revoke our calling. It is irrevocable. It says in Romans 11 verse 29, and I won't take the time to go there, but only you can neglect your calling. God will not take the time to obey His calling. Only you can neglect through rejecting God in His ways. As long as you have a heart to obey God and want to continue to fight the good fight, and never give up, then you are in good stead with God. God sees that you have a heart to obey Him, and God will give you victory in the final analysis. We don't have to be afraid.

In fact, we should be thrilled by the calling that we've been given and the opportunity we have to obey God. Now, let's go to Revelation chapter 17 as we conclude the sermon today. Revelation chapter 17.

Revelation chapter 17 speaks of a time yet to come when people will make war against the Lamb once again. They made war against Christ when He came the first time, and they crucified Him.

They put Him to death in Revelation 17 verse 14.

It says, "...these will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them." Christ is going to fight back. You know, He didn't fight back the first time.

He willingly gave up His life. He died for us. It had to be done.

But this time the Lamb is coming, and He will overcome those who fight against Him.

For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. Many are called, but few are chosen. You are among those who are chosen.

God has chosen you because you responded to Him. He granted you His Spirit.

You are called, you are chosen, and you are faithful. Of course, you and I must remain faithful. We must continue to fight that fight. We must continue to stand up and be counted.

If you were to get a call this evening and someone would tell you that you just received an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii, you'd probably be pretty excited about that. I like Hawaii. Hawaii is really nice. If you have never been there before, don't knock it.

It's really nice. I'm sure I'd get excited if someone told me I was called to be given a complete trip to Hawaii. All expenses paid. Or if someone called you and said you've just inherited a billion dollars. Not a million, but a billion dollars. You would be very, very excited about that. It would be something I'm sure you really couldn't contain yourself.

I get excited just thinking about a lot less things, but a billion dollars would be kind of fun to try to blow through a billion dollars. What if you were called by God and told that you would most definitely inherit eternal life? That you would live with Him forever? Would you be excited about that call? Of course you would. I know you are excited about that call. That's exactly what God is doing in your life. It's much better than Hawaii. It's a lot better than a billion dollars. God owns everything. He owns it all, and He's giving it to us for all eternity.

So again, what is the most precious and important thing in your life? Is it not your calling?

Is it not our calling? Because again, we've all been called with the same calling.

That's one thing that we have in common that really sets us apart from all others. We have been called of God at this time to become born into His family, to live forever with Him, and to be the firstfruits to marry His Son at His return. So we should go forth excited to be a part of the family of God, to be a part of those who are now called out and chosen by God.

So let us not only be called and chosen, but let us be faithful.