One of my favorite lines in Donita K. Paul’s ‘The Realm Walkers’ Christian Fantasy book series says that ‘the called must call upon the caller.’ I don’t usually pause to ponder wording in the middle of an action-packed book, but this line had me thinking.
Jeremiah Calling on the Caller
When Jeremiah received his call to ministry, he protested that he was too young and couldn’t speak for God (Jeremiah 1:6). But then God gave him further details of the call, and enlarged the vision of the ministry assigned to him (Jeremiah 1:7-10). Encouraged, Jeremiah faithfully answered the call to deliver a difficult message which often endangered his life and earned him the title of the weeping prophet.
Later in his ministry, God redirected Jeremiah’s path by giving him a new message of reconciliation and healing. In response to the prophet’s surprise at this turnaround, God said “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets that you do not know about things to come” (Jeremiah 33:3). Without God’s direction for every step, Jeremiah could not have adequately fulfilled his life’s purpose.
Fulfilling our Purpose in Life
None of us comes into the world knowing why we are here, or chosen to be formed in His image. This is a mystery that must be revealed by the One who designed us in the first place. Although we are all called into being by God, only those who take the time to ask, seek out and listen to His purpose for their lives ever have a chance of fulfilling it.
As we plan out our lives in anticipation of new challenges and prospects, let us call on the One who has called us, that we may realize the potential of finding Him. In the spirit of Philippians 3:13-14, may we forget those things which are in the past, and look forward to those things which lie ahead, and to which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:1-3 NIV
