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Getting Ready
for Work
by Rev.
Myrl Eddings
The
Bible admonishes us to work while it is day, for night comes when no one will work. With signs of the end times in clear view, we can
ascertain the soon return of our Lord. We can
also be sure that Satan will do everything in his power to keep the people of God from
accomplishing godly purposes. His sole
pursuit is to kill, steal, and destroy, after all (John 10:10). We can take heart that there is One who is on our
side. He said that his intent is for us to
have more abundant life. In light of these
facts, there remains little doubt that God is looking for laborers in the last days to do
a work for Him (Matthew 9:38).
With
a need for laborers being made public knowledge, it is no secret that the Lord is seeking
for those who will heed His call. Jesus
perceived that those who were bidden to kingdom service would sometimes avoid the calling
(Luke 9:59-62). The good news is that, while
we all have some work to do, the Lord enables us to do the work to which we’re called
(Mark 1:17). This is not to suggest that
everyone abandon full-time employment in the workplace to live as missionaries abroad. It does, however, place individual responsibility
squarely on the shoulders of each and every one of us to fulfill God’s bidding for us
personally.
It’s
apparent that not everyone will accept the challenge of discipleship. The question then
comes to mind: “Who will God choose to do His work?” The answer may surprise you. We’re told that many are called but few are
chosen (Matthew 22:14). We may conclude
through various Scriptures that the chosen ones are those who accept the call of God on
their lives, while those who are only called may refuse this selection. This takes predestination and foreknowledge into
account. The Lord predestines those to serve
Him, who in His foreknowledge He sees will accept that call. We can be sure of this one thing: those who are rejected for God’s service are
the same ones who reject the Savior first. II
Peter 3:9 tells us that it’s not the Father’s will that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
In
his previous epistle, Peter instructed us to desire the milk of the Word of God. He went on to say that those who build their
lives upon Christ wouldn’t be confounded—that is, confused or defeated. We can take hope that the Lord will work with us
to help us accomplish the things for which he has called us. Jesus did advise us, however, that faithfulness
is required of stewards—those to whom something has been entrusted. Surely, nothing is more precious than salvation
and the privilege we have of sharing the gospel. Therefore,
we must live holy lives to please God and do His bidding. Fortunately, when we fall short,
He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us (I John 1:9), but our standard remains before us.
The
key to seeing a work for the Lord accomplished is to first have the desire. Without the motivation, even God cannot work
through a person. On the other hand, the
Apostle Paul proclaimed his ability to do all things through Christ, his strength. His confidence was in the Lord’s ability to
work through Him, not his personal credentials. With
that frame of mind, Paul was able to face death boldly.
We, too, can have that kind of assurance if we possess the same mind to work
for God. Regardless of whether the Lord is to return or not, we certainly will leave this
world one way or another. Wouldn’t it be
a shame to look back on our lives with regret, knowing that all our efforts were on our
own behalf, to accomplish our own agenda?
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