When He calls, what will you say? Part 2

The captain was called upon to BE the captain, and it looks like he couldn't BE that at the time.

The question lands in our laps, "Am I willing to do anything if called upon?"

I have been reading about several martyrs, particularly those of missionaries that were CALLED upon to preach and spread the Gospel to lands and peoples who never heard it.
I have also been reading about martyrs who acted against secular law and lived the life they were CALLED to, most notably Mexican and European priests in the early 20th century.

It is amazing to see the faces of these men who, knowing they could and would most certainly suffer horrible deaths, did not shy away from the CALLING God has for them.

Would you be willing to die for some calling God gave you?

It is a deep and probably disturbing question to think about dying a martyrs death. I truthfully do not wish that for myself or anyone, I dont believe we should, but we should be WILLING to die. If we truly believe in what God has called us to, then we believe that His plan transcends this life and this world. We know that nothing earthly, not even death, can begin to stop or conquer God. If we believe that God has called us, then there truly should be nothing to fear, for God loves us so much, that no hand of man can ever pull us away from that divine grasp.

If our faith is based purely on creature comforts, we do not have faith. Faith is believing and loving when  nothing seems good or loving. Faith is believing when there is absolutely no evidence of God or His grace and blessings in our lives. Faith is believing and loving God when the world is covered in dark and stench.

Martry's death may sound severe, but it is the extent we are called to offer ourselves for God. All throughout our lives we are going to be CALLED upon to serve and sacrifice - we must be willing to do the minor and the great. Our vocations, our service, our hearts, our love, our mind and our very being will be CALLED upon by God to act for Him - what will we say?

This is our true challenge. This is our true CALLING. This is what will lead us to a martyrs death with nothing but the joy and peace of an intimate relationship with God in your heart.

When He calls, what will say?

I have been reading about the search and rescue mission happening over in Italy this week with the tragic and devastating accident of the cruise ship Costa Concordia. In and of itself, it is so sad to look at that scene of the ship on its side and knowing there are people probably dead inside that were looking forward to a fun vacation in the beautiful Mediterranean.

There is another facet to this story that has caught the attention of news media and many bloggers: the captain abandoned ship!

It takes a simple Google search to see countless commentary on it, but let me add my own reflection.

When we live comfortably, when everyone around us is happy and healthy and the only care we really have is "what's for supper?", it is real easy to have a 'strong' faith in God. When God seems to be blessing us with all sorts of gifts, naturally we adore Him and love Him. But, when something goes awry, when tragedy hits, then that cushy faith is put to the test and asked to truly speak.

Do we love God just as much or even more in tragedy as we do in comfort?
Do we have faith in God when the world seems lost and hopeless as we did when we saw only joy?
Is our faith reliant upon my wellbeing, or is it deeper and truer than that?

The captain of that boat had a duty or etiquette assigned to his position on that ship. On that ship, he was the leader, the protector, the brains, the eyes, the heart and ultimately the soul - when he abandoned the ship, the ship was dead.

He was faced with a crisis and a challenge of extraordinary magnitude - his role as captain was challenged. When the ship was cruising the beautiful seas and oceans, it was easy to be a captain. When the rocks struck the ship, it was tested and he left.

I cant judge him, I don't know all the facts; but clearly something broke down, and as captain we look to him.

God is going to call us. God is going to challenge us. God is going to put us through crucibles and we are going to be stretched.

These are all good and necessary, but will our faith remain strong and steadfast, or will we abandon the ship?

When our call of duty comes from God, will we answer with Yes and deep faith and love, or will we scurry and hide from our God because we truly do not know Him?

When He calls us, what will we say?