Calling Now For Thee

James E. Farley

Calling Now For Thee ... What a beautiful song that is! It is typically used as an invitation song. The actual title of the song is, "God Is Calling the Prodigal." It is an admonition to wayward souls to come to God, to return from where they have wandered.

We are, indeed, called by God. He calls men and women to be saved. (Acts 2:39). He stands at the heart's door and knocks, and He says, "... (I)f any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). Of course, this call is through the preaching of the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

The command is for the faithful to go and preach the gospel to a lost and dying world, so that they may hear, believe, and meekly submit to Him in humble obedience to His Will. (Mark 16:15-16, Romans 10:13-17, Hebrews 5:8-9). Also, herein is another call - a call for the faithful to GO. There is another wonderful song that comes to mind: "There's a call comes ringing o'er the restless wave, Send the light ... We have heard the Macedonian call today, Send the light ..."

Christians are called to a righteous life a godly vocation. (Ephesians 4:1). We are to walk worthy of this calling. This calling comes, also, through the taught Word of God. (Titus 2:11-12, James 1:21-25). Ours is a taught religion! We are God's "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10). Indeed, we are called into his marvelous light, and we are, therefore, children of light. (John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5). Paul wrote to the Ephesians with these words, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light ..." (Ephesians 5:8). This walk is "in the light, as he is in the light ..." (1 John 1:7). This simply means that we are to walk in newness of life, to walk in truth or to walk after his commandments. (Romans 6:3-5, 2 John 4-6). Children of light, those called to this vocation, are to be diligent to handle God's inspired Word rightly, for it is through the Word that we are instructed in righteousness. (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17). We are to "... give diligence to make your calling and election sure." (2 Peter 1:10). We do this by diligently adding to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. (2 Peter 1:5-11).

God is calling; are you listening? When an important call comes into your home via the telephone, do you just ignore it? Years ago, I mentioned to a brother that I was considering applying for a job with the Corps of Engineers on the locks on the Kanawha River. He said, "If you like, I will call Senator Byrd for you. He's a personal friend of mine." I said that it would be all right if he did, but I did not expect much to happen. My telephone rang the next Monday morning at seven o'clock. I was asleep, and it roused me out of my slumber. The voice on the other end asked if I was James Farley, and I replied sleepily, "Yes." "This is Senator Robert Byrd's office. Will you hold for the Senator?" I immediately put my feet on the floor and scrambled for a pen and pad. This was an important call, and I wanted to be sure I took notes and got things right. While Senator Byrd and I do not always agree politically, I still realized that he was a man of some prominence and that I needed to be alert and attentive.

Well, God is much, much more important than any U.S. Senator. He calls for you; are you alertly listening and heeding His call? Oh, yes, another thing. We are also called to suffer as He suffered. (1 Peter 2:21-25). Are you ready for that, my brethren? Have you counted the cost? (2 Timothy 3:12). -P.O. Box 285, Crum, WV 25669.

 

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