So far we’ve seen that ALL Believers are called to: Belong to Jesus Christ as His personal possession;

Called To be Saints;

Called To fulfill His eternal purposes as given in His Word;

Called to walk in living fellowship with God and Christ;

Called to be men and women of Peace;

Called to believe and live in the grace of Christ in the Gospel;

And called to freedom from the yoke and penalty of the Law, and from sin’s grip.

But Scripture is not done yet. So we read in Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

What a profound calling this is! Did you catch all of its facets?

Called to:

One Hope;

To have One Lord;

To one Faith;

One baptism;

And to one God and Father.

And once again I am struck with the overwhelming thought that if we as Christians were consumed with pursuing the calling that is comprised of all we’ve seen thus far – we would not be preoccupied with the Christian version of navel gazing that plagues so many – trying to find some personal, peculiar role, purpose or even ministry in life. These – one would think – would be sufficient to occupy our time and effort. But alas, we are so self-focused, that we simply will not be content with “all the trees of the Garden”, but need to find that one special tree, that will bring us to that higher level we imagine is somehow being veiled form us.

So let’s look at this passage just a bit more.

Being called to “one hope” – let me ask, do we pursue the anchoring of our hearts and minds in the hope of the resurrection and what is to be brought to us at the appearing of Jesus? Peter expounded on this in his first letter:

1 Peter 1:3-9 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Time and space won’t allow us to say much more on this part today than just this – what is your hope Beloved? What are you ultimately aiming at? Do you spend any time occupying yourself, goading your own soul to meditate on and order your steps according to – an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading – kept in Heaven for you? Or is it what you can do or be or have or experience here and now?

Are you pursuing your calling? This is a high and liberating calling indeed:

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

And if this is not motivating us in life above some other sense of personal purpose or calling – is it any wonder if we live dissatisfied and ever searching for something else?

O that we would answer the calls He HAS put on our lives, and give ourselves to it. For here, is true joy, satisfaction and usefulness in the Kingdom. And this, irrespective of any outward theater of service. It is equally available to the young, the old, the hale and hearty or the disabled, shut-ins or adventurers, gifted or plain, eloquent or halting, men, women, children, well-read or illiterate. Here is the call: live in the one hope Christ has purchased for us with His blood.