The Christian’s Calling

2005/2/15 16:20:11
By Michael John McCrae

“26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1COR. 1:26-29)

The calling of the true child of faith can come at any time, from any life situation. It is true that God is not particular. He does not negotiate, but he calls. God chooses.

The Lord does not always look for the biggest or the brightest. He is perfectly capable of proving his points through even the weakest elements of societal man; like me for instance. “Not many wise men after the flesh” are called simply because many of these men think they can reason and negotiate a better plan than what God has laid out. Wise men after the flesh build gods after their flesh. This may satisfy the flesh, but it adds nothing to the spiritual health of a person.

That the mighty become confounded is no surprise. Many of the mighty have surrendered before suffering ignoble defeat. Others have committed suicide rather than face a world court and a sentence of death. Not so the people of the true faith. They have faced their trials and their sentences of death; knowing that they have nothing to be ashamed of. They’ve given their testimony of faith and been killed for it, and while the world calls them “foolish” it is they who have overcome the possibility of eternal death in faithlessness to achieve eternal life.

There is no “wise man after the flesh” that will be able to “glory” before the true God.
"30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.” (1COR.1:30-31)

It is the Lord Christ that brings the believer before the Father in “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. This is all based on his accomplishment. It has nothing to do with anything man is personally capable of. It is all based in the choice of God. Not even a believer will be able to “glory” before God, simply because he had nothing to do with his spiritual standing.

“1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 COR.2:1-5)

Paul did not use words of enticement in his preaching. He depended on the power of the Spirit of God to move hearts and minds toward the Father. The “demonstration of the Spirit” accompanied Paul’s words to prove the ineptness of the words of men in the light of the authority of the true God. “Jesus Christ and him crucified” was the simple message of the Apostle. Acceptance meant a vibrant spiritual life. Rejection left the hearers in spiritual darkness. True faith stands in the “power of God”. The “wisdom of man” cannot even act as a crutch, capable of keeping faith on its feet.

“6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, and the deep things of God.” (1 COR.2:6-10)

God the Holy Spirit does not indwell a believer to make him a rocket scientist or an archaeologist. He indwells a believer to make him wise in the ways of spiritual warfare. He helps the believer to pray, to care for his fellow man, to love his neighbor as himself. These are foreign concepts, inadequately addressed in the lives of the unfaithful. A true child of the King fully understands these concepts, and with God’s help is able to put into practice those actions that actually support and strengthen faith.

You can look at the “princes of the world”, whether from government, Hollywood, or academia, and know where their strengths lie. Very few give God any credit for their talent or intelligence; preferring to believe they have made themselves. But, that’s okay.

“The deep things of God” belong to the believer and are more to be cherished than all the world’s wisdom. We may not be the “mighty” or the “noble” of the world; it doesn’t matter.

We are the ones who are redeemed.

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