“Some of you may wonder how God can carry on multiple conversations at once. We become easily confused in a four-way conference call; however, God can talk with everyone on earth at the same time. It’s one of the great advantages of being omniscient and omnipresent. And the reason I’m in this pulpit is because I heard the voice of God calling me to leave my happy life as a lawyer and become a minister.”
There were a few laughs from the congregation. Mike noticed that Bobby Lambert’s expression didn’t change.
“As many of you know, I like to go mountain biking,” Mike said. “Often, my dog, Judge, goes with me. About six years ago, Judge and I took off one Saturday morning and went to the base of Jefferson’s Ridge so I could ride the abandoned logging roads. I took a small backpack containing snacks for me, dog treats for Judge, and extra water bottles for both of us. I also had a copy of the New Testament. We left the car at Hank’s Grocery and started up the road that begins behind the store. It switches back and forth as it climbs the ridge and is washed out in a lot of places. Judge is built for rugged terrain, but even with the bike in low gear, it’s a strenuous workout for me. It took almost an hour to reach Stratton Bald, the highest point on the ridge. It’s one of my favorite places in Barlow County because I can see all the way from Shelton to the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Mike, a faraway look in his eyes, could see the ridge in his mind’s eye and hoped the congregation was joining him.
“I love mountain tops because they are places of perspective. The higher I go, the more connected I am to the vantage point of God. When Judge and I reached the highest point, we sat down to enjoy the sun and the light breeze that always blows across the crest of the ridge. I’d been thinking and praying about going into the ministry for over a year but couldn’t decide what to do. I’d asked people for advice and received so many opinions that it would take a pack of index cards to keep them straight. Opening my New Testament, I started reading in Galatians. The first verse got my attention.”
Mike turned the pages of his Bible. “‘Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ.’ My heart began beating a little faster, not from the ride on the bike, but in anticipation that something important was about to happen. I read verses 15 through 17: ‘But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.’ ”
Mike looked up at the congregation. “At that moment, those verses became the voice of Jesus to my life. I knew without a doubt that I should preach the gospel. I no longer needed the opinions of others, even people I respected. I knew what to do. I didn’t go to Arabia, but to seminary in Virginia, and ended up at the Little Creek Church, not Damascus. However, the application of those verses to me as the guidance of the Lord couldn’t have been clearer. The term ‘called to preach’ has been used so often that we accept stories like mine as orthodox Christianity. Ministers are expected to hear from God. It should be part of their spiritual résumé.”
Mike stepped from behind the pulpit and made sure he had everyone’s attention before he continued. He raised his voice.
“But what about you? Do you have the same right to receive guidance from the Lord as a person considering a career-altering switch into full-time ministry?
Is there a distinction between God’s children that gives access to some but not to others? Can all the followers of Jesus have the hope of hearing His voice? Was my experience on the mountain top six years ago a once-in-a-lifetime event? After that, did God become mute and abandon me to my own devices? I think not.
As one of God’s sheep, I want to continue to hear His voice, and I believe with all my heart that each of us has the same opportunity. Let me tell you why.”
Mike launched into the main body of his sermon with enthusiasm. Time passed quickly as he gave the congregation examples of the ways in which God communicates, using several biblical stories to make his points. When he glanced at his watch, he realized that he’d run almost ten minutes over the normal time limit. He quickly jumped to his conclusion.
“Don’t you think it would be worthwhile to calm down the frantic activity of our minds and listen? Perhaps we’ll revisit this topic in a future sermon. Amen.”
Mike gave Nathan the sign to sing a single verse of the final hymn. After announcing the benediction, Mike took his place at the main front door in the narthex and shook hands with the people as they left. He braced for negative comments about the length of the message but, except for a few references that he was really fired up that morning, none came. Milton Chesterfield wasn’t present. Bobby Lambert approached.