Survivors

Posted: March 16th, 2011 Category: Christianity, Common Sense

What does it really mean to be God’s called, chosen and faithful? In a spiritual context, these are three very significant prerequisites for a hard to land role in the big show with the big guy. Now this is not the popular TV show Survivor, despite the striking similarities. To be a Survivor contestant, starts with a petition to appear, then a select few may be called and auditioned or interviewed. From that select few an even smaller number are chosen to be a part of the apparent reality of the Survivor game. In the end the faithful don’t quit, they are eliminated. The winner however is the lone survivor who overcomes all the trials and tribulations of the continuous “assaults” against them.

The spiritual reality show is quite a bit different. Revelations 17:14 says there are such survivors or followers who will be with God, but there won’t be as many as we would all like to believe. It’s also apparent that in the coming pan-global conflict, only the Lord will prevail but His entire team of followers wins. Let’s start with the calling, since we can’t come to Jesus unless He calls us. Only God knows the specifics but our individual calling can come at any time. After responding or seeking, hindsight reveals each calling, which results in our desire to learn all about God, his ways and then a bit later to submit to his will. Sounds easy enough, but the wholesale cuts at this point are mind boggling. Most simply don’t understand Him and the level of commitment required, so they quietly quit or fall off. Then come the life trials (rejection, abandonment, denials) mostly for simply expressing the desire to be on God’s team, causing even more hopeful wannabe’s to jump from this crew in training. Then there remain a loyal few, who understand, persevere, who endeavor to both learn and put into practice, Gods ways. Those select few choose to submit their lives to God. As they choose God, they become the chosen. Now for the final stretch … the faithful. It seems that the best recruits for God’s team are also going to be heavily recruited by the opposing team. The obstacles blocking our stay in God’s camp will be huge, the incentives to leave outrageous, the hardships for saying no to the evil recruiter almost too painful to tolerate. This happens because the best players always play the hardest for whichever team they choose and the booty for the winners in this match will be the difference between life and death. The faithful are those precious few who hang in there all the way and overcome all the trials and tribulations they will face. There won’t be many, but they’ll be the best and of course the victorious.

JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE