THE CALL AND THE COST

The Call and the Cost

By Mary Ann Wray

The Lord gave me an admonition this morning that I feel is important enough to share with the Body of Christ; especially to those who sense a call of God and/ or operate in one as preachers and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

My thought after a recent dream the Lord gave me is that God has already begun to replace certain preachers who glean off the praises of men and pats on the back, with prophets who roar with truth for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah….

You see, the call of God is not something the Lord does to incite emotion, give us a sense of identity,  appeal to the ego or grant us a life of affluence for obeying it. It is totally based out of His mind, Heart and Will; not man's will, personal ability or lack thereof (John 1:13, 2 Peter 1:21). If anything, the call of God to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ, causes fearful trepidation in the heart of a man or woman who understand the cost and severity of responsibility involved. Most sincere and pure hearted people run from the call of God at some point and time in their lives, because they realize it infers death to self-will, along with its price of probable rejection and weightiness of judgment. One answers and begins to move in the call of God with power and authority only after its responsibility and duty become more important than any possible privilege. It’s not at all equated with giving candy to a baby-it’s quite the opposite. It’s the Father turning over the keys of the Kingdom to those who prove to be responsible with the Father’s treasure.

My Dad gave me the keys to our family car for use, AFTER I completed Driver’s Ed., obtained a learners permit, then received my actual driver’s license. It was a process of learning that included studying the traffic laws of the state of Virginia, simulated classroom instruction, on-road student driving, then final testing at the Division of Motor Vehicles which included me proving that I had done all of the above successfully. 

There are those who have been given great giftings and their gifts have made room for them as the Scripture says in Proverbs 18:16. However, there remains in some great character flaws and abuse of power. Many will weep and gnash their teeth at His appearing (Matthew 7: 23). A person's charisma/ gift is not what qualifies them as approved by God. Gifts are given without merit-they are gifts (Romans 11: 29). But rewards for obedience to that call come after proper use and carrying out one’s duty and responsibility with a submissive cheerful heart. We each have to steward what God gives us according to His Word-not our whims. A person's character, consecration and laying down of their life after years of testing and faithfulness is what qualifies them before the Father and grants them eternal rewards at the end of their earthly life. After a time of testing, The Father gives them the kind of authority from Heaven to conduct His Kingdom Business after being found faithful to His Word (Matthew 12: 28; Romans 14:17-19; Acts 2:22; 2 Timothy 2:15).

“And he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free.  He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed,  to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.” Psalms 105: 17-22

To abuse or misuse the gifts and call of God for personal gain, pleasure, power, fame, at the expense of other’s spiritual, emotional and physical well-being, carries stricter discipline and judgment for those who portend to operate as such in leadership roles, than those who do not (1 Peter 4:7). Therefore, we must all take heed how we stand lest we fall!

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”  1 Corinthians 10: 11-12

You see beloved, the call of God carries great weightiness because it involves caring for and tending the flock of God which is Christ's own personal possession that He purchased through His own shed blood (Acts 20:28). If one is not faithful with mammon (money) and natural things, how will Christ entrust to us true riches, which are in His economy the souls of men that He suffered and died for to redeem (Luke 16:11)?

To answer the call of God is to endure hardness as a good soldier and at times suffer persecution-yet in the midst of great joy. To obey the Lord, answer His call, and allow His ongoing discipline in one's life through submission to His Lordship, accountability and correction, carries unspeakable eternal rewards that our minds and hearts cannot totally grasp in this finite world. Those who've heaped up great riches in this life at the expense of God's flock have already received their reward.  They have not endured suffering for the gospel’s sake albeit, loss, sacrifice and laying down their lives for the sheep.

That is the reason why the Apostle Paul said these things:

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 (KJV)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV)

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I would like to end this article with a poem written many years ago by a 12 year old boy. That boy, our son, Samuel Paul Wray, is now in Heaven.  Whatever God has called you to do-don’t hold back, but count the cost then answer the call!

I know that it seems hard to answer to His call

But I will stand firm when those around me fall

For I will not step out in fear

But I will walk in faith.

To stay home and back off from God

Would be a total disgrace

Answering God’s call is what I’d like to do

And if you listen close you’ll hear His call to you
I have listened to His call for me

For right now my call is to be a missionary

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“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12 (KJV)