162. Called by God.

Though God 'wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth' (1 Timothy 2:4) and has commanded 'all people everywhere to repent' (Acts 17:30), still all men will not repent and be saved! On the day of judgement, they will never be able to say that they were never given a chance. That is why Jesus commanded that this Gospel be 'preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations' (Matthew 24:14) 'so that men are without excuse.' (Romans 1:20) As for those who have and will respond to the truth and repent, they were foreknown by God. And 'those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son ... And those he predestined he also called...' (Romans 8:29) them to salvation and appointed them to his service. 'Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve - designating them as Apostles ...' (Mark 3:13-14) They were never able to live up to that title until the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God came upon them and their lives were transformed! Before that, they seemed to be the most unpromising group of recruits for the task but after that, they were unstoppable! He still calls those he wants from among those that are saved, and designates 'some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service ...' (Ephesians 4:11-13) Fishing was the career of most of the Apostles but to be 'fishers of men' (Matthew 4:19) were their life's mission! They gave up their careers for their mission in life. There are also those who have put their 'mission in life' above their careers and have done well, provided the Master so says! Either way, fulfilling our mission in life is what matters, with or without a job! Every one who has come to believe the truth, has been given the 'ministry of reconciliation' though they might not have been called to the fivefold ministry. 'All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation ... And has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christs ambassadors ...' ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-20) Just as a person is called and appointed by the government to represent his nation as its Ambassador, we too have been called and designated as Christ's ambassadors to represent the Kingdom of God on earth. Even the least among us in the Kingdom of God has been called to be an Ambassador of heaven. Consider it an honour to be at His service. Amen.