How Long Will God Tolerate Your "Busy Signal"?

 

 

God is calling His people to a Greater Level of Commitment than ever before. Unfortunately, from most, He is receiving a "busy signal" in return. The reason for this is because they are all caught up with "other things" so that He cannot possibly get a message through to them.

Does this situation describe your life at the present time?

 

Years ago, we were handed a cassette tape recording of a Prophecy, given at the end of a particular Church service. The Word of the Lord, delivered by the Pastor of the Church, began with these stirring and heart-shaking words -

 

"I have called...I have called...I have called...

You have answered...In some measure...In some measure...

but not totally...not totally...

 

I am calling for a Commitment to do things MY way (emphasis on the word "MY" here)...

not your way...but MY way...

You have said, I will do...I will go...

But you have not answered the Call..."

 

There are so many different reactions that people have to the Call of God. Sad but true, most are rejecting  it, refusing to submit to His terms of commitment.

 

Let's look at some of these reactions as delineated throughout the Scriptures.

 

Proverbs 1:24 says - "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded." 

So many never heed or take notice of what God is saying to them at the moment. Others through their own carelessness, willfulness, or love for their sin, just flat out deny Him.

 

Proverbs 1:25, 30 - Some "set at nought" all of His "counsel." In other words, they find it not worth heeding. Others go so far as to have "none of My counsel," considering it with great disdain.

They will have nothing to do with His reproof either - "would none of My reproof...They despised all My reproof." They simply do not believe that they have done anything wrong to deserve His sharp word of correction or admonition. Some even suppose it all a joke and a matter not worth regarding.

 

Proverbs 1:29 - They "hate knowledge," in that they rebel against any "light" of Truth, exposing areas of their lives which they desire to stay hidden before men. Rather than walk in the "fear of the LORD," they choose to walk in the way of their own hearts and according to the sight of their own eyes.

 

Jeremiah 6:19; John 12:48 - They will not "hearken" to God's Words or Law. They simply refuse to bring every area of their lives in submission to His Lordship. With scorn and contempt for His Law, they demonstrate to all that they do not "love the Lord" as they confess, but actually despise Him - "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words..."

 

Hebrews 2:1-3 - Truthfully, they are guilty of neglecting "so great salvation." Every time that they show an attitude of nonchalance toward it, don't concern themselves with it, make light of it, or don't embrace its offers, they are showing before all that they are refusing and rejecting God.

 

Instead of giving "the more earnest heed" to the things which they "have heard," they "let them slip." Because Jesus is the Exalted One, they should give strict attention to His Words - attend to them at all times, never forget them, or be indifferent to them. Instead, because of a dullness of spirit and cold affections, they allow His admonitions to run out of their minds, lips, and lives like water flowing out of a leaking vessel.

 

Matthew 22:3,5 - To all of His invitations, they are either slack in coming or flat out refuse to answer the call - "...they would not come." In a sense, they consider all of His preparations as something of no consequence or value - "But they made light of it, and went their ways..." Other things were simply more important on their agenda.

 

This brings us to the place where we must ask ourselves the Million Dollar Question - WHY?

 

Why would anyone, in their right mind, refuse a call or invitation from the Living Son of God - none other than the Lord Jesus Christ?

 

The answer can be found in the Holy Scriptures -

 

Matthew 22:5 - "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise."

Proverbs 1:32 - "For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them."

 

The answer to this question can be summed up in the following words - carelessness, indifference, unconcernedness, security, sensuality, and worldly prosperity.

 

Why do people refuse to answer God's Call to a Greater Level of Commitment?

 

Simply because their lives are filled with "other things" or the matters of this world which they deem as being more important than the things of God.

 

So many allow the business or profits of their worldly employments to steal their time away from the Lord. The farmer in the country always seems to have some work to do. Those in the city have some type of business that they must tend to at the time - to buy, sell, or get gain. Consequently, they both find that they do not have time left over to tend to spiritual matters.

 

So many are turning to the "drive" for worldly prosperity which, in turn, is causing a carelessness or easygoing indifference in matters concerning their own souls. They find themselves filled with a false security and gross sensuality which dulls their spirit and deafens their hearing to any Call of God to a Serious Life of Commitment.

 

It is imperative that, as believers, we allow the Holy Spirit to take His Spotlight - the Word of God - and expose any areas where we have held back in our covenant with Him.

 

So many comfort themselves with the reasoning that says - Because I am not in any gross sin, I must be right with the Lord. Yet, they do not understand that having a cold indifference toward or a neglect for the matters of their own souls is just as wicked in God's sight.

 

Read the comments from Barnes' Notes on this matter of "neglect" -

 

" 'Neglect' is enough to ruin a man. A man who is in business need not commit forgery or robbery to ruin himself; he has only to 'neglect' his business, and his ruin is certain. A man who is lying on a bed of sickness, need not cut his throat to destroy himself; he has only to 'neglect' the means of restoration, and he will be ruined. A man floating in a skiff above Niagara, need not move an oar or make an effort to destroy himself; he has only to 'neglect' using the oar at the proper time, and he will certainly be carried over the cataract. Most of the calamities of life are caused by simple 'neglect.' By neglect of education children grow up in ignorance; by neglect a farm grows up in weeds and briars; by neglect a house goes to decay; by neglect of sowing, a man will have no harvest; by neglect of reaping, the harvest will rot in the fields. No worldly interest can prosper where there is neglect; and why may it not be so in religion (Christianity)? There is nothing in earthly affairs that is valuable that will not be ruined if it is not attended to - and why may it not be so with the concerns of the soul?..."

 

Once again, we quote the words of the Prophecy given at that little Church several years ago -

 

 

The truth of the matter is - GOD IS CALLING!

How Long will He tolerate your "BUSY SIGNAL"?