37. Who He Calls

God says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Sounds good, especially for encouraging others setting out on grand adventures and hopeless quests. But why does our response to His call often leave us feeling rolled, spindled, and mutilated? What happened to supplying all our needs? Or granting wisdom, comfort, or money enough to do what He told us to do?

The answer partially appears, of course, once we recognize the disparity between our desires (wearing a needy-cloak), and His knowledge. But after life works that lesson in us, we still wonder—secretly—at the difference. Seems like He continually keeps us off balance—demanding more than our ability and providing less than our need.

Truth’s less obvious portion reveals itself in just who, exactly, He calls. Human eyes see destitute beggars and lost fools forming the bulk of God’s Kingdom. God, on the other hand, calls the redeemed to do the impossible, those bought for a price to pass through the fire, His saints to cross raging waters, His ambassadors to confront the kingdoms of darkness. Yes, He dragged us as miserable, wretched worms from Hell’s cesspool. But then, He adopted us as sons, made us citizens of His Kingdom, and filled us with Himself, with His divinity, power, wisdom, knowledge, and truth. We feel off balance here because we no longer stand on Earth. Rather, He planted our feet on the Rock of Heaven’s high places. We speak His words to those clinging to a sinking ship’s tilted deck.