“Paul, called as an apostle, set apart for…God…to all who are beloved of God, called as saints” Romans 1:1,7
Paul’s letter to the Romans begins with the observation that God calls. He summons and invites people to move toward Him. Elsewhere, Paul describes this as “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:14).
One spring day I saw a baby bird on the ground, flapping little wings and chirping. On top of a nearby building was the mother bird, making loud staccato chirps. I imagined that the baby was saying, “How did I get down here? I was just trying to copy you! And how can I get back up there?” The mother was encouraging the fledgling to spread those wings and fly upward.
Paul experienced the upward call of God in Christ Jesus when a bright light knocked him down, blinded him, and gave his three days and nights of life changing joy and instruction in the third heaven with Christ (Acts 9).
For “the beloved of God called as saints” in Rome, nothing so dramatic occurred, but God still drew them to Himself, pulling them away from mundane, fading earth-joys with a transformation just as amazing as a fledgling that starts to fly. Later in this letter, Paul will examine this carefully and describe it: “Those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (that’s the purpose of the call), and those He predestined, He called.” (Rom.8:29-30). This means that the call of God comes out of His heart; it tracks back to something about Him, not about us. There is no observable reason He should call Jacob and not his twin Esau, but before they were born, He knew who He wanted. Jacob wasn’t better than Esau; he was just more blessed.
The call of God leads to a life change. The called one is “justified”; i.e., made right with God. He or she has become aware of a whole new dimension to life.. Christians call this the new birth. It is something like going from black and white life to living in technicolor. The final destination of this “upward call” is to be glorified. That last, indescribable transformation occurs on resurrection day.
The call of God is effectual. It never fails to create a powerful change. Churchill observed that most people stumble over the truth sometime, but they pick themselves up and walk on. When God’s word is spoken or read, the called ones hear God’s invitation unmistakably and compellingly; others just pick themselves up and travel on unchanged.
The call of God, Paul says, is “without repentance” (Rom.11:29). God never uncalls those whom He called. The call of God creates an echo in those who are called so that they return the call back to its Source. Those who are called, call upon God. As God draws them close, they develop a hunger for that closeness. They find that “the Lord is abounding in riches for all who call upon Him” (Rom.10:12)
My prayer for anyone reading this is that God will use my inadequate attempt to describe this life changing miracle to call you; to get your attention, turn you toward Him, and draw you upward into His presence, and finally into His glory. Listen! He calls with a still, small voice.