“The Lord said to Abram, “Go, from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

Genesis 12:1-2

 

Several years ago, my wife Mary and I took a vacation with all my siblings and their families to Denver. This was before anyone owned a smart phone that had GPS capability, so we were trying to find our destinations by maps only.

Late at night we pulled over into what appeared to be an abandoned parking lot. My brother Ryan pulled out the map and said, “We should head north!”

My other brother Criag said, “No, we need to go south!”

My other brother Brendan said, “I don’t think we are anywhere near this place.”

All of a sudden, an argument ensued, so I decided to walk away because I didn’t want to deal with the drama. As I walked further around this parking lot, I noticed a row of crosses on top of a hill at the far end of the parking lot and counted 15 crosses in all.  I thought that was interesting.

As I turned to head back to the group, headlights from an oncoming car revealed something that was invisible to me just a few seconds before. What I saw sent a chill down my spine, because I realized that we were standing in the parking lot of Columbine High School. This is the same school where Klebold and Harris killed thirteen people and then themselves. We were standing on sacred ground and didn’t even know it.

I bring this all up because knowing what direction to turn in life is very important. One wrong turn and you can find yourself in strange or dangerous place.

In the text listed above, we have God’s calling to a man named Abram. Maybe you’ve never heard about Abram before. Abram is the same person whom God later changes his name to Abraham because he was a man of faith. It all started when God called Abram to leave his comfortable surroundings and head to the Promised Land.

God invites us on a journey. One that will be long and sometimes difficult. Sometimes uncomfortable. But His call for us is for our good and for His glory. I want to share a few observations from Abram’s calling and how his faith came shining through.

First, by faith when God asks Abram to leave the comfort of his home, he doesn’t complain, argue or make excuses. God spoke and Abram had ears to hear; he listened. Abram figures out that his job is to join God on the journey.

Second, by faith Abram is willing to go to the ends of the earth. God calls Abram to leave Haran and travel to Shechem. That, my friends, is 425 miles to travel. This was before modern transportation. This will be a long, difficult, uncomfortable journey. 

Third, by faith Abram starts the journey when he is already 75 years old. Here was a man who could have been set in his ways and not willing to budge out of his comfort zone into the unknown.  But at the age of 75, Abram heard and listened to God’s call. Why was God calling Abram to leave? God told Abram He was going to make him into a great nation, which sounds ridiculous because Abram and Sari do not have any children of their own. Yet Abram believed that if God had called him, this journey of faith would be worth traveling.

God invites each of us on a journey with Him. This is not just for pastors; everyone has a call on our lives to use our gifts and talents for God’s glory. But what if I chose the wrong way? Fear is one of the tools the enemy will use against us to keep us stagnated and docile. God wants to free us to be used by Him.

If you are concerned of choosing the wrong path, let me assure you God is at the end of any path we choose. God will work with you right where are. That is what faith is all about. I have heard it said that the Christian life is a mystery to be lived out, not a question to be figured out. So live everyday into the mystery called faith. I will guarantee you that God will direct you.

Meet Me Next Week at the P.E.W.

Pastor Joel