Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. -- Isaiah 6:8
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Have you ever heard the voice of God? Has He ever called your name as he did the man, Samuel, in I Samuel, chapter 3? Maybe He didn't speak your name audibly, but you sensed God speaking to you within, in your heart?
If that has happened to you, how did you react? What did you do? Did you seek to answer God in some manner? I sure hope so, because the Bible makes it clear that you can be called by God.
How has the experience affected you? Has it changed your whole life? If you did not respond positively to God, why not? Perhaps you were simply afraid or unsure about whether it was God or not.
Samuel thought at first it was his friend and teacher, the prophet, Eli, calling. When he heard the voice on each of the first two instances he ran and replied to Eli. The prophet answered that he had not called, and then recognized that something else was going on. He then instructed the youth to go back to his room, and when he heard the voice again, to ask God what he wanted.
Read the story. You'll find that God did call again and Samuel answered obediently.
The Bible makes it plain that it is not God's will that any perish. God issues an invitation of Salvation to "whosoever will" and in verse 3 that author calls it "the common salvation" because it is available to all.
In order to obtain what God offers us, we must qualify for it. You must take advantage of what He says is required to receive it.
Concerning Salvation, for instance, Jesus told Nicodemus that "no man can see the kingdom of God" (let alone enter into it) unless he is "born again" (John 3). Because of His great love for us, Christ shed enough blood to save us all. Still, unless we obey God's instructions for putting the blood atonement into effect, we remain lost. Without the "born again" experience, people die without hope because they have not obeyed the Gospel's instruction on how to break the curse of death that sin brings.
God certainly is merciful. In Genesis 6, God decided the wickedness of man was so widespread that He was sorry for ever creating mankind. He seriously considered wiping him from the face of the earth. In the very next verse, 6:8, though, He declares, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
Noah found grace because he was responsive to both God's call and instructions. The Genesis account tells us that God told him to build an ark as a means of Salvation to all who heard him. As he worked on the ark, Noah preached that God's wrath would soon rain down. Building the ark took over 100 years, but Noah obeyed God. Genesis 6:22 tells us that as a result all who heard Noah (his family) escaped and gave mankind a new start.
The Bible tells us much about God's choosing of men. Isaiah heard God's call at first and pleaded he was a "man of unclean lips" (Isa. 6:5). In response, God sent an angel with a live (hot) coal in his hand to touch his lips which had been purged. So, while we may feel unworthy, if God has called us, he will equip us to carry out his purpose.
Look at God's calling of so many great men of the Bible--Abraham, Joshua, Samson, Samuel, David, Peter, Paul, Cornelius--the list goes on and on. He's still calling today, still looking for a few good men and women to serve and carry out his purpose in the earth.
He has declared that His church (the "called out ones" who will be His bride and rule and reign with Him through Eternity, must be without spot or wrinkle. Above reproach, if you will. God teaches, cherishes and enables faithfulness.
Paul told the church at Rome that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29). Thus, if you've heard His voice, and maybe are hearing it now, pay attention. If you do, I can assure you that will find your life fulfilling the real reason you are here.
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