Called to Be God’s Image Bearers

Introduction

Though the authorship maybe in dispute, the poem “Footprints in the Sand” has encouraged and inspired many through the years. The last stanza portrays a tender and loving Father God:

He whispered, ‘My precious child, I love you and will never leave you,

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you.’

The author presents this vision as occurring near the end of a person’s life, but I would contend that for one to lead a life well-lived, one needs to reflect often on how near God is and how often He has carried us, not simply at the end of life’s journey.

I assume that you understand that each person is uniquely made, and one of those unique features is our fingerprints. Certainly, God’s uniqueness is without question, so a forensic review of one’s life in search of God’s fingerprints is amazing, as one intentionally deliberates on the diverse pathways one’s life may have taken. My reference to God’s fingerprints is a way of referring to His involvement in the events that have shaped or redirected one’s life.

To successfully undertake a reflection of God’s involvement in your life, you should create a timeline, along which you list the influential people, nodal events, family experiences, faith experiences, achievements, educational experiences, and work experiences that have shaped who you are. Ponder how each of these influential elements may have directed or redirected the pathway of your life. The next step is to write a narrative—the story of your life. As one who is called, you will be amazed at God’s involvement in your life. My story is truly a testimony to God’s involvement, as His fingerprints are evident throughout my life.

Throughout this book, I present scripture to demonstrate the heavenly Father’s involvement in calling unto Himself a family. It is only through the metanarrative of scripture that one can comprehend the immeasurable love the Deity has for those He has called. Believe me when I say the Deity is the source of revelation to those who are loved. I am confident that the believer who eagerly searches after God through prayer and through a focused study of His inspired Word will be blessed with the godly wisdom that the heavenly Father is eager to bestow on each of His children. One cannot do this without gaining the knowledge of who we are, the relevancy of our lives, and the knowledge of our spiritual gifts. Our Father intends for each of us to use these gifts within and for the benefit of His family of families—the church.

My Calling

A senior elder has said that my spiritual giftedness is that of a prophet. It is humbling to think that I have received such a calling from God. The apostle Paul acknowledges the spiritual gift of prophecy: “those who prophesy speak to other people for their up-building and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3). As stated in the preface, the words penned on these pages often came from deep within my spirit as they were stirred by the Holy Spirit, and many times tears have flowed as thoughts have risen to the level of my consciousness. My expectations are that you will come to comprehend how truly great the Father’s and the Son’s love is for Their family. This will become apparent when you understand that what was achieved on the cross was conceived and made effective through a oneness in purpose and resolve of the Deity. I am confident that realignment in your thinking will cause a discovery of the Almighty that you have never before experienced. God sent His prophets to redirect the orientation of Israel and Judah back toward the proper worship of Him, in order to reflect God’s holiness to the rest of the world. They rejected the messenger; therefore, they rejected God. Their testimony became an affront to God’s holiness, to His name, and to their own heritage—the family of Abraham. When you have finished this book and if you are one who is called, ponder the title, and then decide if your life reflects the true image of the Deity.

In Summary

One’s calling is a gift that can only be understood and cherished as one comprehends the will of a sovereign Deity. At the same time, it is only our obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading that advances our relationship with the heavenly Father and the Son. Knowledge of the holy can only humble one’s spirit toward an orientation of reverence and awe, thereby altering how one lives one’s life. Knowledge reaches its full expression as it transitions into godly wisdom. Godly wisdom is the greatest blessing a believer can acquire, for with wisdom comes the responsibility to live in a manner that benefits the faith community, and yes, the world. It forms a certain behavior that brings peace and calmness to any situation; as a result, it is an invaluable inheritance that must be passed on to future generations. As one reflects on his or her life, it is appropriate for the mature person of God to create a body of work in order to benefit others. It can come through any venue: writing, music, art, in serving others, or however God has gifted you.

Before you begin reading, I only ask that you fold your hands and ask the heavenly Father to show Himself in ways that you cannot now imagine. Meditate on those ideas or revelations that have been foreign to past thoughts. This is not a difficult read. Allow the Holy Spirit to massage your spirit or soul with the balm of His truth and drink in the Deity’s graciousness.