Isaiah 9:2 (NIV) The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
Matthew 4:12-22 (KJV) 12Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And immediately many of us wonder, “How could they?” Consider this possibility: they left their nets because of the power of the call that came from Jesus.
The power of a call gives passion to our life, energizes the timid recesses of the soul and brings out the hidden strength we did not know we have. The power of a call gives unity and focus to life. Instead of doing one thing after another, instead of going from one flaming demand to the next, we have one overriding purpose and passion for our life.
How many of us have known the power of a call? How many of us would leave everything to answer that call?
Isaiah had said “The people walking in darkness.” Matthew says, “people which sat in darkness.” To sit denotes sluggishness. It speaks of being immobilized and paralyzed. What is the darkness that immobilizes our life?
Could it be that the thing that keeps us in darkness is our busyness? Could it be that we are so preoccupied with success and survival that we are deaf to God’s call? Could it be that our sense of responsibility so dominates our life that we do not hear or see God’s call?
We never know how or when the reality of God’s presence and God’s rule will break into our life. The good news is that no matter how deep the darkness, God’s call comes to us. The kingdom of God is near. Turn from the darkness that immobilizes and take a step or two toward the glimmer of light we sense in Jesus Christ.
This is how it was for the disciples. They were not sure who Jesus really was. They only sensed a power in the call that comes from him. And the whole experience is not romantic, adventuresome or overwhelming. The call comes through the simple words of a carpenter turned teacher.
And when we follow it is like we have come into a darkened room. At first nothing is visible, then we see vague shapes, and then as we follow more light comes. We see more details. We see more of what we are being called to do. Jesus announces the presence and the rule of God as an accomplished fact. The sun will shine and the kingdom of God is here.
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 24, 1990
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles
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