Do Not Procrastinate, CALL!

Do Not Procrastinate, CALL!

Do you know that the words “call” or calling” are some of the most important words in the world? You don’t? Perhaps you may have thought that “love” or “money” or “relationships” or “compassion” or even “good works” were the most important.

You’re wrong, they’re not. But how is it that “call” can be more important than “love” and “compassion,” you may protest. OK, I will admit that the word “call” may seem less important than “love” and “compassion” but when “call” is used together with “God” (who is the very essence of love and compassion) then there is no word in existence that equals its importance.

Why is the word “call” so important? First of all the word “call” (when it is used with God) comprehensively includes a sense of finality; it effectually determines one’s final destination. You may ask: “What on earth led you to believe that?” Well, let’s look at some solid evidence for my statement.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: (Joel 2:32)

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Wow, have you noticed that the exact same words are used in three different parts of the Bible? That makes it pretty important, doesn’t it? It is as though, and I’m not suggesting that it is, the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) each wanted to make the very same statement with an intent to show that they are in complete agreement. Now, let’s take a look at the characteristics of this statement.

It has the strength of a surety or last will and testament.

A surety, as you may know, is a person who has made himself or herself responsible for another, as a sponsor, godparent, or bondsman, to obtain for him/her a state or quality of absolute assurance, safety and lifelong security. Hence, the surety is the entity who secures for him/her all these benefits; the beneficiary merely has to receive as a gift the surety’s grant of assurance, safety and lifelong security.

The most important sign or proof of the surety’s bond that he will accomplish all that he has promised is his signature. All documents, such as a last will and testament must be ratified by a signature. Someone once taught me a beautiful song many years ago during one of our Bible studies.

The words are as follows: “He signed the deed with his atoning blood. He ever lives to make his promise true. Should all the hosts of hell come in to make a second claim (on my soul), they all march out at the mention of his Name. They all march out at the mention of his Name.”

Jesus Christ and He alone is the surety/bondsman of our souls because He alone has signed his last will and testament with his own blood on the cross more than two thousand years ago. Not only that, He also blotted out the ordinances God so rightly held against us – ordinances that testified against us before an awesomely holy God – and nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

With one single blow He nailed it to the cross and cried with a loud voice “IT IS FINISHED” (“Tetelestai” – the ransom is paid in full). And to prove that He is the Son of God who has achieved all this for sinful man, He rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of God.

It has the strength to motivate lost sinners to thirst for the living waters of the Living God.

Jesus often said things to grab his audiences’ attention. One of these was when He told a group of Pharisees and Scribes who were offended by his habit to eat with sinners and publicans that only the sick needed to go to a physician. “So what!” you may add, “everyone knows that.”

Nonetheless, when it is applied in the spiritual sense of the word most people do not understand it so easily; especially when they refuse to admit that their spiritual maladies are horribly terminal. The scribes and Pharisees attributed their spiritual wholeness and right standing with God to their rigid keeping of the Law and their kinship to father Abraham.

They weren’t sick, they thought, “we have Abraham as our father” (Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8). Most people, whenever they are confronted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, quick-wittedly take from their little bag of “haves” a whole bunch of “we haves” to justify their own righteousness before God.

“We have our church,” “we have our culture,” We have the one and only true church in the world,” “We have our peculiar good works,” “we have our traditions,” etc. etc. etc. The truth, however, is that we have nothing whatsoever  – we have no righteousness; we have no peace; we have no lasting joy; we do not have eternal life, unless you have Jesus Christ (1 John 5:12).

In fact, those who do not have Jesus, have one thing in common. They do not have the Living Water because they have all the other stuff that supposedly satisfies and quenches their thirst. You cannot possibly have God’s Living Water whilst you cling to your own “I haves.” Empty hands have a better chance of finding God and his mercies than hands that are filled with all kinds of “I haves.”

It has the strength to invoke God’s eternal redemptive power upon you.

Of all the most wonderfully amazing and staggering things that are said in the Bible, one that stands out with superlative beauty is: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Imagine for one moment the apparent absurdity of such a statement, especially when the Person to be sought after is an invisible and intangible spirit (John 4:24).

How do you seek after someone you cannot see and then claim to have found him when he remains unseen? Ah, the answer to this superlatively beautiful mystery is tied up in your heart.

Your heart, in the biblical sense of the word, is not merely the little pump in your chest that supplies your entire body with oxygen filled blood; it is your entire life. Hence, the seeking after God is not merely a hide, seek and find little game.

It is to seek Him with so much passion, hunger and thirst, and so much fervor that you would rather seem to want to die (lose your entire life) than to not find Him. And this is precisely where the wonder and beauty of God’s invitation to seek Him comes in.

Those who seek Him in this way, with all their heart, shall find Him because He allows Himself to be found of them; He reveals Himself in the most innermost part of their being – their spirit and soul (entire life).

Why does God say “with all your heart?” He says so for the simple reason that He wants to occupy not only a single compartment of your life but all of your life. He wants to be the fulfilment of your entire life and not only certain aspects of your life.

Imagine someone purchasing a large mansion with many rooms and then occupying only a single small room in one of the far corners of the mansion. Can you call the mansion your home? Of course not; that’s ridiculous. God wants to fill your entire life with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Do Not Procrastinate, Call on the name of the Lord for Your Salvation

Procrastination is arguable the most dangerous poison in a person’s life. “I will do it tomorrow” is usually the mantra of those who have a free-spirited “manana” disposition. No wonder someone once said that the way to hell is paved with good intentions but those good intentions remain forever in the morrow.

Saul of Tarsus who later became Paul and who was to become the greatest evangelist of all time was also somewhat of a procrastinator, at least as far as calling on the Name of the Lord is concerned. Listen to this; Ananias is speaking, the man to whom God sent Saul after he had had a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus.

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:14-16)

If you, the reader of this comment, have as yet not come to Jesus Christ to call on the Name of the Lord for your salvation, I urge you to do so today and not to procrastinate.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7)

Do Not Procrastinate, Call on the name of the Lord!

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