The True Calling: What Do You Have to Show for It? -By Seun Elere

Once upon a time, there was a very strong man, an army commander, and a very powerful government officer but he has a challenge – he was leprous. He was with this challenge for quite a long time without cure. A man of his caliber must have spent a lot of money, consulted several physicians and gods for healing but all efforts were to no avail. In one of his victorious expeditions, he had brought home a little girl to serve as maid in his home. This little girl must have seen this warrior fall in and out of depression until she could no longer bear to see her master suffer. One day, she told her mistress about a prophet of the most high God in a faraway country and how she was so sure that the prophet would be able to heal the big boss. The master heeded to this little girl’s advise and, guess what, he was completely healed (2 Kings 5). Naaman traveled several miles to another country to see Elisha for healing and he got it.

Also, during his time on earth, multitude trooped after Jesus Christ for miracles and, of course, he went about healing all manner of diseases (Mathew 4:23). Many very highly placed government officials and even those that sought to kill Him couldn’t stay away because He carried so much light. Everywhere he went (water, mountain, etc), multitude would still gather. Similarly, in Nigeria, we know how multitude troop to listen to Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Adeboye and Bishop Abioye. Regardless of where their churches are located, it would still be filled with overflow.

People would always respond to signs and wonders. Light attracts multitude. People were not running after Jesus Christ because of his name, people don’t troop to Winners Chapel or Redeemed Christian Church of God because they know the presiding preachers, they follow signs and wonders. In the same way, every believer is redeemed to be a carrier of light, to be an embodiment of signs and wonders (John 14:12). We were redeemed to attract multitude to Christ by demonstrating the benefits of redemption (living as champions on earth).

The best way to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ is to simply show what He has done, what He is doing and people would know what He can do. It is called the Good News. The Samarian woman said ‘… come and see’ (John 4:29). That’s all she has to do – just to show – and many followed her to see the Christ. Jesus would tell the healed to go and show themselves (Luke 5:14; 17:14). We were redeemed to show the signs and wonders of God (Act 14:3; 2Cor 12:12) and only through would we genuinely attract multitude to Christ. If you have nothing to show, no one will show up (Act 8:6; John 4:48). Your grammatical prowess regardless, if you cant demonstrate what He can do through your life, then it would be difficult for anyone to listen to you.

We are, by redemption, called into the realm of exploits. Anything short of this is questionable. Those that know their God shall do exploit (Daniel 11:32). Unfortunately, so many of us are going about without knowledge of the benefits of salvation. He called us to a feast (Luke 15:23), He said all things are ready (Luke 14:17). Many believers thought that the only benefit of salvation is to make heaven and the only way to do that, they thought, is to live a wretched life – this is erroneous. Yes, our ultimate goal is to make heaven but also to ensure that others, through us, make heaven. To do this, we must live heavenly even while here on earth. No one will follow you to your Christ if all they see is poverty, sickness, pain, etc. If we are doing it right, then we should have everything in abundance (Luke 22:35) to show forth Christ in all that we do (Isaiah 45:19). By redemption, we are to show forth light – to brighten the world. We are called to sweeten the world (Matthew 5:13-16). How do we ask someone we borrowed from to come to Christ? How do we convince those we run to for help to accept Christ? The Church needs to find this light, we should be the source of relief to the world and not constitute burden.

Why are we not exhibiting these kingdom benefits, you may ask. Firstly because we lack knowledge of our heritage in Christ. My people perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). You can’t have what you don’t know. The depth of the kingdom knowledge we have determines the extent of kingdom benefits we enjoy and show. ‘Those that know their God…’ (Daniel 11:32). Everything we need to do exploit is in the word of God, but we are too lazy to search out these redemptive benefits (Jeremiah 15:16). I was once told a story of an Elephant that was held bound for so many years. The Elephant’s movement was limited to the length of the chain he was bound with until one day, his chain was broken and surprisingly, for a very long time, this Elephant wouldn’t walk beyond the same distance he used to when he was still bound. Many of us have been redeemed but we still live as though we are still restricted – still live as though we are still in bondage. Another greatest impediment to the possession of our Godly heritage is unbelieve. To have knowledge is one thing, to believe what we found is another. No one can receive anything from God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). We can’t receive nor enjoy anything from God without faith (James 1: 6-8). When we know our true nature in Christ and believe same, manifestation is guaranteed. Yes, it is possible to know and not believe. When Jesus couldn’t do much wonder, especially amongst His own people, He marveled at their unbelief (Mark 6:6). I guess that’s how He feels right now with many of us. We claimed to have been redeemed, we know Christ but we are not showing forth the wonders of the kingdom.

This mockery must stop. We need to do this right, we need to serve God right, we need to search and find our goodly heritage in Christ and exhibits His signs and wonders. We need to be like Christ, we need many Oyedepos, Adeboyes, Abioyes, Enenches, Copelands, etc. When your neigbours, friends, colleagues, etc see Christ in you, they will follow you to your God.

You can’t claim to be for Christ if you have nothing to show for it.

You can reach the author via jumefolly@yahoo.com