I get a lot of phone calls from people I know. I recognize their number on the caller ID and their voice is familiar – no problem. But then I get a lot of phone calls from people I don’t know. I don’t recognize the number or the voice. “What’s this, who’s this, what’s the problem, where will this lead, how will this turn out?” I wonder what would happen if Jesus called? What would He want? How would I (or you) respond?
Maybe Jesus is calling to divide. You can’t be “yeah, whatever” about Jesus. You will end up taking a side, for or against. You can’t sit on the fence or “I’ll get to it later.” As He walked the earth and did ministry, some loved Him while others hated Him. It’s the same today. Some have ears to hear and eyes to see while others don’t. You either belong or not belong; there is no middle ground. Jesus will cause you to take up stones against Him or fall at His feet in worship and adoration. Some will be hostile and reject Christ, while others will get closer and embrace Him. Choose this day whom you will serve.
Maybe Jesus is calling to disrupt and demand. He calls to pull you away from your comfortable job of fishing or tax-collecting, like Peter and Andrew, or Matthew. “Leave your home and family; follow me.” He could get you thrown in prison, like John, Peter, and Paul, or even killed, like Stephen. He will call you to make sacrifices, to give up all you have, to pluck out an eye or cut off a hand, to walk an extra mile or turn a cheek when you get slapped. His calling is not convenient.
Jesus makes dangerous calls, but He also calls to offer a strong defense. He calls to draw you in, and there is safety and security in following Him. All other religions waffle and depend on your effort; you never really know for sure where you stand with God, you just hope that your good deeds have outweighed the bad and you’ve jumped through enough hoops. Not so with Jesus; you know where you stand every moment. There’s nothing you can do to be accepted by Him, only receive Him as Lord and Savior, the perfect sacrifice for your sins.
God will punish every sinner, fairly and justly. Judgment will be levied. For those who repent and believe in Christ as Lord, the punishment is on Him, on the cross. Forgiveness, saving grace, and eternal life are available only through Jesus and to anyone who would trust in Him. There is no place more secure than in Christ alone. Is He calling you today? What does He have to say to you?
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