WHEN GOD CALLS, ANSWER!
A Meditation by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk
Harundale Presbyterian Church
Text: “So Abram went.” (Genesis 12:4)
First
Second
Abram, as Abraham was known in those days, was a lot like our graduates this morning, except he was a pretty old guy. He’d never been away from home. He had settled into a comfortable routine. While it doesn’t tell us for sure, Sarah, his wife had probably cared for most of his needs. He’d never had to do the ironing. She’d probably regularly washed his tunic, and saw to it that he’d been well fed.
Then along
comes God who tells Abram that it’s time to leave home. God has plans for him and he’s to gather all
his belongings, his family and whatever else is needed for the journey and set
out for a destination that will unfold before him. It’s just like the recruiter who’s told Julie
Martin when to report to Air Force boot camp.
Or, the admissions office at
Come September these five young people will be in surroundings that are completely new to them. On the one hand they’re excited, but on the other they’re a little nervous. Just like Abram they’ve been told to set forth on a journey, when they don’t really know its destination. I’m sure that Andy Messmore, Linda Lowe and Beth Werner can relate to how they feel. They can remember when they felt the same way, just starting their academic studies. Now that’s behind them and each of them has a different call to look forward to.
Now, let me just make an observation here that could somewhat put our minds at ease. It’s very clear from Abram that God’s an integral part of his journey. It’s God who’s called him, it’s God who will show the way, it’s God who’ll make of him a great family even though the man’s in his dotage. It’s not quite so clear with Julie, Melissa, Nick, Jason and David that God has that same controlling advantage. But, whose fault is that, surely not theirs?
Somehow in our haste to assume control for our own lives, we’ve edged God farther and farther onto the margins of everyday living. In this country we’ve developed a cult of entitlement and individual rights. It’s I who has the final say over what I do. It’s I to whom I’m ultimately accountable. I have to be responsible for me. So, we could say that each of our students have now made their decision and it’s up to them to make of it what they will. We would feel quite comfortable saying that and letting it go at that. But, unfortunately, we in the church can’t leave it at that, since God won’t let us!
Just like Abram, so also with Julie, Melissa, Nick, Jason and David, we’ve got to believe that God has designs on their lives. What they’ll do with those designs is up to them. Abram could have told God to forget his offer; he’d lived a good life up to this point. But that’s not what Abram did. Neither is it what our students have done. I firmly believe that God has led them in their decision and now God’s going to be there for them along the way.
I remember when Andy went off to school; his folks were nervous wrecks. I remember when Linda went off to school; I was a nervous wreck. Also, Beth has had to balance being a mom with being a student, no easy task. Yet each one of them could look back on their accomplishments and give testimony to how God led them through some of the bad times as well as the good times.
That’s why it’s so necessary for us this morning to have heard from Dr. Gordon. I can remember when the storm clouds of doubt were circling all around him. He was living one day at a time. Like Abram he was being told to pack up what had been a very comfortable life style and lean into the headwinds of great uncertainty. The other lesson he leaves with us today is that he never did it alone. Not only was God his constant companion, but so also were we. Not a day went by when someone in this congregation wasn’t praying with and for him.
And neither will a day go by that someone isn’t praying with and for our graduates. But, in the meantime, a word of advice to our graduates, remember what Abram did as soon as he got to the land of the Canaanites. We’re told twice how as soon as he got to his destination he built an altar to the Lord. In other words Abram never forgot the many blessings God gave him. God blessed him with safe travel. God blessed him with whatever provisions he needed. God blessed him in that God kept God’s word and never forsook him. Melissa, Julie, Nick, Jason and David, remember that. Always trust in the Lord to watch over you and guide you each step along the way. But never forget to thank God at the end of each day for the many blessings God gives you.
God doesn’t expect you to build God an altar. What God does expect is that when God calls you, as God has done for each of you, your answer will always be, “I am here by the grace of God and thanks be to God.”
Amen