Called out - 27 March 2024, Anno Domini

 

I

 AM the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  (John 15:5)

 

            A great Indian missionary from the Punjab (1889-1929), Sadhu Sundar Singh, once wrote, The little chicken in its shell lives in a very circumscribed and narrow world of its own. It is receiving its mother's warmth and care all the time, but it is unconscious of them because it cannot see or know her. It has wings, but they are closely folded and it cannot use them. So, it is with us until God calls us out into His abundant life.

 

            The same describes the lost sinner before he comes to know the risen Savior. He can do nothing to save himself. He is helpless without the calling Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ drawing him out of his shell of sin and depravity into newness of life – life changed as surely as the cocoon who undergoes the metamorphosis of the butterfly is gifted with new wings of freedom.

 

            Without Christ, we are nothing. We are dead in trespasses and sins, and no more alive than the entombed Lazarus whose dead body had already begun to decay. But outside the tomb stood the Lord of Life and Love. It was the sound of His Voice calling His name to come forth, and he did so still bound tightly by the grave clothes. His face was also covered so that Lazarus was blind to the One to whom he had responded. Jesus then commanded the disciples about him, Loose him, and let him go! (John 11:44) Lazarus was thus set free. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could perform such a miracle, but what effect did it have on the Jewish observers when they witnessed such an event? And what about the rebellious Jewish rulers? But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death (again). Because that by reason of him many of the jews believed and went away, and believed on Jesus. (John 12:10-11)

 

            The Jewish rulers knew full well only God could resurrect a dead Lazarus from the grave; but they preferred their own power, prestige and glory to obedience to the Lord God and His only Begotten Son. They were precisely what Jesus labelled them – children of their father the devil for it was his will that they would do and not the will of the living God – hypocrites!

 

            Just five days later, our Lord Jesus Christ would die His atoning death on the cross for us. Now, it was He who would lie in a tomb much like Lazarus. Who remained that could raise Him from the dead as He had raised Lazarus? At least Lazarus owned a tomb – the tomb of our Lord was a borrowed tomb, and rightly so, for He would need it only for three days and three nights. 

 

            At the apprehension of Jesus in Gethsemane, the disciples all deserted Him and fled for cover.  He died alone on the cross with only the women and the Apostle John with the courage, motivated by love, to remain till the end. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus (he who came by night) were the two to risk the wrath of Rome and the Jewish rulers to remove the body of Jesus ere the Sabbath began at Sundown.

 

            So who would command the stone to be rolled away on resurrection morning and raise our Lord to life? But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

 

            You and I were just like that chicklet in its temporary home in its shell – unable to love, without freedom, without knowledge of our Creator, etc. We were spiritually dead in trespasses and sin unable to help ourselves until the Spirit calls our name and we go forth from the grave relieved on the binding grave clothes of sin. And you hath He quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;  (Ephesians 2:1-5)

 

            You are even loved while in your shell, but you are unable to return that love until you are born into newness of life by way of the quickening Spirit of God when He calls your name to Come forth. That call is granted by the risen Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.