What are you called to do?
This is a good question. One I imagine you have probably asked yourself more than once–whether it was in high school before graduating and figuring out the next steps of your life, or the million times since then like me, just because you want to make sure you are in the will of God.
My husband has been teaching a series at our church along these lines and I really like an angle he has been taking on this. Before trying to figure out a particular occupation, profession, or “calling,” try starting with the encouragement found in 1 Peter 2:9, which says:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS into His marvelous light.”
Seriously, this is huge. Think about it. No matter if you’re working at the local convenience store, attending college, or teaching science to middle-schoolers, the first thing you are called to do is come out of the darkness.
In other words, what you’re putting your hand to right now, preparing for your future, will have no real impact if you are still abiding in darkness of any kind. The Greek word here is skotos, which can mean physical darkness, but more specifically implies spiritual darkness, ignorance, or error. Darkness describes our enemy, the devil. God has first and foremost called us out of darkness, away from the influences and control of Satan himself.
I’ve always said, “Ignorance is a killer.” And I like what I recently heard Rev. Mark Hankins say: “Ignorance isn’t cheap.” This is so true when you factor in time and resources to our quest for purpose. And if we interchange the definition into our scripture, we can see Peter’s intent was to remind us that God has chosen us for Himself, “…out of ignorance into His marvelous light.”
Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, blindness, and deception. God’s children are destroyed for these things (Hosea 4:6). So this means to be called out of darkness isn’t just a one-time salvation experience. It’s a continual walking out of revelation from the unknown to the known, from fuzziness to clarity, from nothing to something! I’ve been a Christian for over 25 years now and the Holy Spirit still reveals new truth to me every day– and I love it! I love walking in the light.
So here’s the deal: there is definitely something you and I are “called” to do as a career or life adventure, but if we’re abiding in darkness (the deception of sin and influence of ignorance), does it really matter what that profession is?
I don’t think so.
I’d rather work 40 years at a convenience store with revelation knowledge of the light and truth of Jesus Christ than be the 46th President of the United States with spiritually blind eyes. Because when this all ends and we enter the fullness of eternity, only the light will matter then– therefore it matters now.
Pursue the LIGHT and you’ll find what you’re called to.
