The Two Greatest Days in Your Life
Mark 1:16-20
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BOOK that has had the greatest impact upon the church in recent years is The Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren. You may have seen it indirectly promoted by the woman in Georgia who talked a wanted man into surrendering himself after he had killed some police officers in a courtroom.
She had shared the book with him in her apartment. And when interviewed on national TV, she unashamedly talked of the book’s influence on her own life. That was followed by several interviews of the author.
Then recently, the father of Natalie Holloway told reporters that he gave a copy of “The Purpose Driven Life” to the father of the boy who is incarcerated as a suspect in Natalie’s disappearance.
Why all the interest in this book? I think in part, the answer lies in the fact that God has placed this quest within us.
I read recently an article by Dr. Jeffery E. Greenway, president of Asbury Theological Seminary in which he told of an incident that occurred at his inauguration. A pastor friend took him aside and said, “Jeff, there are two great days in a person’s life–the day you were born and the day you discovered what you were born for. You were born for this.”
And I believe that there are two great days in your life as well. The day you were born and the day you discover what you were born for.
❏ What were you born for?
❏ Why did God choose to knit you together inside of your mother’s womb?
❏ Why has God graced you with life?
❏ Why are you here?
Several years ago, Time magazine did a survey in which they tried to discover what the number one expressed need in America was. Do you know what the vast majority of Americans said? They said that it was the need for meaning and purpose–to know what we were born for. What are we to do with our lives?
A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder
A cheerful old man used to ask the same question of just about every new acquaintance he fell into conversation with: "What have you done that you believe in and you are proud of?"
He never asked conventional questions such as "What do you do for a living?" It was always, "What have you done that you believe in and are proud of?"
There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playng in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn’t come up here to read.J. M. Boice, Learning to Lead, Revell, 1990, p. 38.
I can tell you from personal experience that those who have answered the question about their purpose in life are the happiest and most fulfilled. As I reflect upon my own life, it is astounding the path that God has taken me on. It has been an exciting adventure. I know without a doubt that God has directed my path and brought me places that I could have never dreamed of.
And I am not unique. God has a call upon each one of our lives. In fact, I can see at least four distinct calls that are given to a Christian.
1. THE CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS
This what we read about in our Scripture today. Jesus calls four fishermen and tells them they will be fishing for men. So they leave their nets and do just that. They leave their former way of life and start walking with Him in a different direction. But that’s not the end of the story. Its just the beginning.
You see, the decision to follow Christ is not a singular event. It starts with a singular event and involves a yielding of one’s life every day from that point on.
Do you remember how later on, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter? But He did more than just change his name. He changed his identity. When you and I receive Christ, we have an identity change as well. Our purpose becomes His because we now belong to Him.
2. THE CALL TO BE LIKE JESUS
Here’s a good prayer to pray every day: “Lord, help me to be more like Jesus tonight when I go to bed than when I got up this morning.”
After all, isn’t the goal of the Christian to grow and be more like Christ?
How do we become like Christ? Let me offer a couple of suggestions.
❏ We make a choice to grow. It all starts in the will. “Will Power!” That’s what we need. Not to stop something, but to start something. Lighthouse Community Church can offer all the means of discipleship possible–Sunday school, Bible study, small groups, membership classes, etc. But until folks make up their minds that they need to grow, all the efforts in the world won’t make a bit of difference.
❏ We begin practicing all means of grace–we study the Bible together, we worship together, we pray together, we bind ourselves together in small groups; we witness to our faith–we practice those habits and slowly and surely the character of Christ is formed within us.
You can tell from our Scripture that the business of bringing people into a relationship with Christ has some things in common with fishing.
For example, if you want to attract fish you’ve got to use the right bait. I like pizza. I don’t like worms. But if I put pizza on my hook, I’m going to go home with an empty bucket. I’ve got to offer what will be interesting to the fish. So it is with reaching people for Jesus.
That’s why I’m so proud of Lighthouse Community Church. We’re not just offering religious stuff. We’re talking about the needs that people have in a place where they feel warmth and acceptance, in words they can understand.
But there’s another important fishing principle we need to keep in mind as we present Jesus to others. After you catch the fish, you clean them!
Actually, God catches them and cleans them, through His children. Any good fisherman knows that the cleaning takes time and always occurs after the fish is caught!
The cleansing is twofold–clean in our standing before God and a cleansing in which we really are involved. We are called to be a holy people–set apart for God! We know that we can’t clean ourselves so we ask God for help. We need divine power to be set free from sin.
“God loves us the way we are but He loves us too much to leave us that way.”
— Leighton Ford
Let me ask you, Are you willing to practice the holy habits that will cause the character of Christ to be formed in you? Are you willing to ask God to make you more like Jesus at night when you go to bed than you were when you got up in the morning?
3. THE CALL TO MINISTRY
God has called and gifted every Christian to ministry. If you have received Jesus into your life then you received the gift of the Holy Spirit, who gives gifts for service. Most of us know shortly after we’re saved what our gifts are. If you’re not sure, ask the pastor. He can help you discover your place of service. Now I know that the gifts are listed in Romans, Ephesians, and Corinthians. But they are not exhaustive. When I come into this church I am met by greeters at the door who have the gift of hospitality. This is a blessing from God!
Florence Littauer -- Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement
Do you know someone who has:
A song waiting to be sung?
Some art waiting to be hung?
A piece waiting to be played?
A scene waiting to be staged?
A tale waiting to be told?
A book waiting to be sold?
A rhyme waiting to be read?
A speech waiting to be said?
If you do, don’t let them die with the music still in
them.
“God doesn’t call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing, and then He qualifies them.”
— Richard Parker
Rick Warren said, “God gave me a gift, not for me but for you, and God gave you a gift, not for you but for me. If you don’t use your gift, you’re depriving me; if I don’t use my gift, I’m robbing you.”
God has a call to ministry upon every person’s life. There is ministry and purpose for your life and the life of this congregation that will not be complete unless or until you’re placed beside the other members and fulfill this calling. What are called to be and do in Jesus’ name? How have you been gifted to serve?
4. THE CALL TO FULL-TIME CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
This call is not for every believer. While we’re all called to ministry, some are called to be set apart for full time Christian service.
It is marked by a yearning of the heart and restlessness of the soul that God is calling one to something more. It is evidenced by the gifts of the Spirit and confirmed through the witness and affirmation of the Church.
They are leaving their “boats and nets” in favor of full time service. Mt call came in the Spring of 1970. It was both thrilling and frightening. I was both excited and scared about the future. I’m praying that there may be several from this church who sense the call of God.
Make sure that you are tuned into the voice of God. He will speak to you in the night. He will speak to you through other people. He’s the One who might be nudging you right now.
You see, there are really two great days in your life: the day you were born and the day when you discovered what you were born for.
Where is God calling you? Are you ready to respond in faith?
Hymn: “Where He Lead Me I Will Follow”
