Are You Doing Your Job?

By Pastor Sharron Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

February 18, 2015

God created each of us individually. He has numbered the hairs on our head. Each one unique, each one extremely vital to His plan for the world.

We know this. We also know that each of us was endowed by God with irrevocable gifts and “callings” if you were. In other words, God created us with a plan and purpose in mind.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

Why? I believe that God's greatest desire is for the earth to return to it's perfect state—as it was in the beginning.

Genesis 1:1-

How can the earth possibly be returned to its pre-sin state? Well, perhaps not perfection. Close to it, however.

Because each of us was created for a purpose, and that purpose has to be good because it was formed by God; each of us has a job to do which utilizes our unique capabilities, talents and gifts. And we are to use those for the purpose that God set forth for us at the time of our creation.

Why doesn't God just wipe the earth clean and start over? Because he promised he would never do that again. (rainbow covenant)

I believe God set in place at the time of Christ's death and resurrection and ascension a plan to restore the earth. Before Jesus it was impossible, because the old law was still in force. Sin=death. After Jesus sacrificed his life by becoming our sin and dying on the cross, it became possible for us to renew the earth. How?

Receive Jesus. Receive his reconciliation, his cleansing, his forgiveness. Then walk as a new creation in Christ. Now that which was impossible before is now possible through Christ (1 Cor. 4:13)

Will we choose to be lazy Christians, not taking responsibility for the state the world is now in, living as “good people” until we die and go to heaven? Or will we take that responsibility, and find out what it is God created us uniquely to do, and DO IT?

You see, the world is an intricate, complex place with many, many problems. But just think about the possibilities if each person walked out their passion, according to their calling by God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Each person, whether it be a doctor, scientist, naturalist, Mother, Father, musician, contractor, pastor, teacher, prophet, evangelist, apostle, etc. would have an effect upon his own environment. Each person would impact the world for Christ, exactly the way they were created to.

I believe that God has created us this way because of our prayers to him to solve the problems of this world. It may seem simplistic, but when we do not follow our God-inspired passion, we are adversely impacting the world. We are cheating the next generation and generations forward from the changes we could have made. Improvements and solutions we could have brought about.

So many people leave their passion in order to “make a living”. I did. My decision was not a wise one. Had I been strong enough to pursue my faith calling, my life would have been very different. Having said that, God was able to use the mess I created, after I confessed and repented, and once again renewd my calling. Now, I am finally living out my purpose. I have no regrets—I don't believe in regrets. I love my Father God and know that he loves me enough to use whatever I give to him, surrendering a little or everything; all for his glory. I am not aware of changing the world, but that isn't important. Only obedience in faith is important.

If we have faith and believe what Jeremiah 29:11 says, each of us can and will indeed change the world. At the risk of mimicking “It's a Wonderful Life”, we each have our footprint on this earth. Had we not been created, the world would definitely be a different place. Our impact may not be realized in our own generation, but quite possibly may be seen in our children as adults, or their children, and so on. Remember, it was Solomon who built the temple, not David.

If I decide to carry an unexpected baby to term, and bring him/her up in a loving home, doing my best to provide and care for him/her, that person will grow up and have an impact on the world. What that impact is depends on two factors: that person, and God.

We are a people of choice. God allows us to pattern our own lives based upon our own decisions. I believe, however, the bottom line is this: do we, or do we not listen to God's voice? I do believe he speaks to us all, whether or not we know him, believe in him, accept him as Savior, or reject him. He does continue to call us to him.

Some call it our conscience. Some say it's “instinct” or their “gut”. Some know it as the Holy Spirit. But each of us has a voice we know to be our indicator of right and wrong. That gut feeling that we need to listen to, or pay the consequences for our decision not to.

Let's look at a few examples. Say a little girl was impacted by a kind nurse when she had to have her immunizations. She decides she wants to be a nurse and help people when she grows up. Let's look at two possible outcomes:

1. She comes from a very poor family who cannot put her through nursing school, so she grows up hearing about how impossible and impractical her dream is. She therefore either--
   1. Defies her parents and becomes such a fantastic student that she receives a scholarship and goes to nursing school, or
   2. Gives up, drops out, and repeats the perceived and encouraged failures of her parents. Quite possibly giving birth at a very early age, and writing her future patterned after her own mother.

OR

2. She comes from a middle or upper class family who supports her in her dream, and ultimately can make it possible to achieve it. She therefore either:

1. Is grateful for their support and does well in school, moving forward to college and ultimately realizing her dream.
2. Defies her parents and teachers, because her peers do not support her, she falls into destructive behaviors.

I'm sure we are all familiar with situations such as these. But you see, there is another alternative.

What if this beautiful young lady had met Jesus? What if she received him as her Savior? What if she learned that the passion she had within her was placed there by him for her specifically? What if she learned a sense of responsibility for walking out this calling? Would this then make a difference in her decision making process? I believe it would.

We all live life according to our situations and circumstances. I received a scholarship in Journalism. I later transferred to a major in linguistics. I had a passion for Jesus, and a passion for languages. You can see the possibilities. But my scholarship ran out, and my 2 part time jobs didn't pay enough to keep me going. I was offered a job for a very good amount of money. I took it, deciding that I couldn't “make a living” as a linguist.

Maybe I was right. But you see, I made the decision for all the wrong reasons. I didn't have a family that helped me make decisions based on God's will. I was basically on my own as far as my faith was concerned. Without a mentor a young person is quite subject to the world's way of thinking.

So you see, even this young lady still has hope in her life, even if she didn't initially realize her dream of helping people. The deciding factor is this:

SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST.

Only in surrender do you find total freedom. I know, our brains are not hard-wired to think that way. It makes no sense. Surrender means defeat in this world. However, in the kingdom, surrender means only one thing:

TOTAL VICTORY.

Only in surrender can you realize your true calling. Only in surrender can you know your true identity in Christ. Why does that matter?

Remember when I was saying that each of us makes an impact on this world? Well, in Christ, that impact is positive. He will ALWAYS use your life for good. Always. What is the alternative?

Surrender to the world, and the prince of the air. Satan. Yep, there is no in-between. It's an all-or-nothing world, and we need to make our choice. Satan will NEVER use your life for good. And if you are not surrendered to Christ, guess what? You are surrendered to satan.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

Our God knows exactly what decisions and circumstances we face in our lives, and what we will do. Here's the deal: even if we do not surrender to him, and we live our lives selfishly and don't care a bit about others, we still have a chance to impact this world for the good. How?

Let's look at another example, taken from a movie we recently saw:

A grumpy, lonely, greedy, wealthy old man lies in a hospital bed, dying alone. No one wants to be with him, and he has pushed everyone away. But he knows he's dying. BUT--

A neighbor of his realizes he is gone, and finds out he is in the hospital dying. This neighbor knows Jesus, and does not hesitate to share his faith. So he calls his pastor, and asks him to visit this man, just in case he decides to make that decision for Jesus.

The pastor and the neighbor, and their sons go to the hospital. The boys are very young. The neighbor introduces the pastor to the dying man. He is rude and turns his back on the pastor, but decides to turn back around at the sight of the two boys holding their father's hand.

They sit and chat with him. But he begins to have problems breathing. The nurse comes in and checks his vital signs, and shakes her head very slightly to the pastor. The man does not have much longer.

One of the boys whispers to his father, “Daddy, does that grouchy man know Jesus?” His father tells him he's not sure. The little boy steps forward, looks at the old man, grabbed his hand and says, “Don't you want to go to heaven? Don't you want to see Jesus? He loves you, even though you are grumpy and not real nice. Just say you are sorry and he will forgive you. And you can go to heaven.”

The old man whispers “Jesus, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I want to be with you in heaven.”

The nurse comes in shortly after that and disconnects the monitor, because the old man had slipped away at the end of his prayer.

I know, it's a nice little story. But think for just a minute. How did the pastor impact the lives of others? He brought his son. He showed love to the old man. He responded lovingly to the neighbor's request. He allowed his son to observe, and to speak.

How did the neighbor impact the lives of others? He cared for a grumpy old man enough to call the pastor. He accompanied him and introduced him. And he brought his son.

How did the pastor's son impact the lives of others? He watched. He took in all that he saw and experienced. How did all this effect him? The future will tell. The possibilities are endless. Will he surrender to Christ? Will he have a calling to be a doctor, a pastor, a missionary, an evangelist? You see, with Christ in the picture, all things are used for the good of those who love him.

Now, what if that neighbor hadn't made that call, and didn't go to the hospital? He would have to answer to Jesus for that decision. Who knows that he may have been created for such a time as this? It could well be that his purpose was to make it possible for this one man to become a child of God. And If he had not taken his son, who knows what the effect would have been? Yes, maybe there could have been more opportunities. But possibly not. Is that a chance anyone should take?

Esther 4:14

“... and who knows but that you have been created for such a time as this?”

That old man now knows Jesus. The young boy might become the next Billy Graham. Or President of the United States. The neighbor's son may become a pastor, doctor, missionary. And the neighbor? Well, he and the pastor, and maybe the nurse have just witnessed an amazing event they will never forget. It will effect them in ways they can't imagine, for the rest of their lives.

You see, we each have a job to do. Listen to God. Sometimes he speaks in that still, small voice, a whisper in your mind's ear. Or sometimes it is an undeniable witness.

Find Jesus. Surrender EVERYTHING you are, have and will be to him. And ask what he has for you to do.

It is then, and only then you will find freedom, purpose and total joy. Ask it, live it, walk it.

Say yes to him, and change the world.