How Do You Know?

Quite often, almost daily I have the privilege of talking with people about their lives, problems, hopes and dreams, but today for some crazy reason a little talk I had with a young lady (by email of course - we're social distancing here) really touched my heart. I think it might be because there is hope packed within her little questions. Obviously her name has been changed, but everything else is the same as I sent to her just a few short hours ago.  Well, I did correct a few grammar mistakes, probably not enough though.   

What a wonderful question! I am asked this probably 10-25 times per year in person. It usually happens when I speak in groups or churches - someone usually comes up to me after everyone is gone, and it is just me and them, and the conversation usually goes something like this:

Random Person: How were you sure God wanted you to be a missionary before you first began, and where did you go from there?  

Me: Is God calling you to do something?  

RP: I don't know, that’s why I’m talking to you.

Me: Well, it’s simple really. 

RP: How so?

Me: If you have ever been to Sunday school and listened to the teacher teach the Bible - if you have ever listened to a sermon - if you have ever sung a hymn or praise song - if you have ever read any of the Scripture, how can you not feel called?   

RP:  🤯

Me: Yeah, if you believe Scripture, and if you take the very Words of Jesus seriously then how can you not know that you are called? I mean Jesus literally said, “Go into all the world. . .” In Mark chapter 2 Jesus told Andrew “Follow Me!”  The story is really about the call of the first Disciples, but the story continues through the centuries and is applicable to those of us who are His disciples today. In essence in Mark 2, Jesus told you and me, “Follow Me!”  He called us to action; that’s pretty dog gone clear, and it is up to us to tell Him “NO" and stay home. In this story Andrew immediately followed Jesus. He didn’t wait until everything worked out well. He didn’t wait to get all his little duckies in a row; he left what he was doing and followed Jesus. Fast forward to the end of the book of Mark, and Jesus’ last Words on earth were to “GO, teach and baptize.”  Then He followed that mandate up with telling us to not fear snakes or drinking poison. By the way, He doesn’t want us playing with poisonous snakes or drinking Clorox, but rather He is telling us - FOLLOW HIM, and DON’T FEAR. The Bible is pretty clear on the subject of faithful following.   

RP: Yes, I know that Bible story, but how does it apply to me? 

Me: I don’t understand your question, so may I ask you a question in order to clarify your question for me, but it might be a bit offensive? 

RP: Umm, Ok. . .

Me: Which parts of Scripture do you think don’t apply to you?  Think long and hard; I’ll wait. 

RP: Ummm. Ohhhh, I see what you did there. . .

Me: (Smiling) Yes, if you feel in your heart that God is leading you to do something, and if it goes right along with what's taught in Scripture then I am positive God is calling you to do something. I can promise you that feeling - this desire - in your heart to lead people to Christ - to make a serious change in the world is not coming from Satan. Of this I am positively sure. What I don’t know is whether God is going to place you in a land far far away, or if He is going to place you in a business just down the road, or if He’ll lead you to be a smokejumper fighting California forest fires. I don’t know, you don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. Think about this: Would you be willing to go as far as it is possible for Jesus. Why don’t you and I pray this prayer right now and mean it with all our hearts? 

“Yes, LORD, I will follow You. Lead me to where you want me to go, and make your path clear to me. I will walk through any door that You open for me, and I will do my best while I am there, and I’ll be patiently doing what I can for You right here where I am until you open the next door that you want me to walk through. I will have the courage to FOLLOW YOU the rest of my life. AMEN.”

And this Miss Random Person brings us to the next part of your question - Where do YOU go from that commitment? The answer to that question lies in the next three questions:

Who do you know that needs to be closer to Christ? 

What can you do to bring them closer to Christ?  

Are you going to obey Jesus and do what you already know how to do in order to bring them closer to Christ?   

And now you do that. This is where you start. 

Continue doing that until the next door opens, and be patient because God will open the next door in HIS time, and it will be obvious to many of those Godly people with whom you have surrounded yourself that you MUST walk through it. 

My greatest disappointment is that over the years I have had this same discussion with hundreds of people. There are many who feel called to go to the ends of the earth, but they aren’t willing to walk next door in order to get there.  Don't be that person. 

Love you,

Steve D