(from the region around Mt. Ararat)
Dear God,
Thank You so much for Your kind words about my character. I really appreciate it and I do hope to shine bright for You in these dark days. Honestly, though, I’m not drawn to Your idea about building a boat. Building a boat on dry ground would make me look pretty foolish. So, I respectfully decline Your invitation to build an ark. By the way, what is rain?
Sincerely, Noah
(from Ur of the Chaldeans)
Dear God,
Thanks for offering Sarai and me the chance to move to Canaan - and Your promise of all of those blessings is very touching. However, while I’m sure Canaan is a lovely region, Sarai and I like it here in Chaldea. I’m sure You’ll be able to find just the right person to make the trip.
Sincerely, Abraham
(from the capitol of the Persian Empire)
Dear God,
I know that I agreed when Uncle Mordecai told me to use my position as the Queen of Persia to benefit the Jews. And I really do care for my people. But my uncle’s suggestion that I enter the king’s throne room to make petition for the Jews is suicidal. Surely You understand why I must decline.
Yes, my fellow Jews need protection from that wicked Haman. But if I don’t act, surely You’ll raise up deliverance from someplace else? Right?
Sincerely, (Queen) Esther
(from the city of Capernaum)
Dear God/Jesus,
Thank You for Your kind offer to join Your traveling band and to follow You. I’m honored by the invitation, as I’m convinced that You are what you say You are. The problem is that, as a tax-collector, I wouldn’t be worth much as one of your witnesses. Nobody would listen to anything I might have to say.
Jesus, You need more credible followers (maybe someone like that Judas guy). I just don’t measure up to what You’re looking for. I’ll never be anything but a tax-collector.
Sincerely, Matthew
Thankfully, these letters were never sent. Noah and Abraham and Esther and Matthew didn’t refuse God’s invitation to serve Him. They all said “Yes!” to God’s call.
But I’m not at all sure that it was a slam dunk that they would say “Yes!” After all, the Bible is filled with stories of people who said, “No” to God’s invitations.
For instance, He invited the entire nation of the Jews to enter the Promised Land during the days of Moses. Instead, they rebelled at Kadesh-barnea. Imagine how differently history would read had that generation said “Yes!” to the report given by Joshua and Caleb.
If Noah had refused the command to build an ark, would God have approached someone else to do it? Would He have found another way to press “re-start” on the human race?
And, yes, Mordecai did tell Esther that if she remained silent, deliverance would come for the Jews in another way. But if Esther had remained silent, what would have happened? Who would have “stood in the gap”? (Ezekiel 22:30)
If Matthew had refused Jesus’ invitation to “Follow!” the Lord might well have invited someone else to take his place. But Matthew would have missed the opportunity of a lifetime watching from the sidelines.
Every day, opportunities knock on the doors of our lives, inviting us to serve Jesus. He knocks and invites us to be involved in what He is doing in the world.
Be an agent of grace and reconciliation to a world in desperate need of both.
Serve the poor.
Tell a friend about your Jesus.
Give above and beyond to meet a Gospel need abroad or a pressing need nearby.
Contact the person who just popped into your mind.
Pray fervently.
Speak the truth in love.
God is constantly inviting us to the abundant life of faith and obedience.
Let your mind wander.
Go ahead and wonder, “What would the world look like had biblical characters or more modern ones - St. Patrick of Ireland; Martin Luther; Billy Graham; Martin Luther King, Jr.; the person who shared Jesus with you - said, ‘No’ to God’s nudge?”
These all said, “Yes” so the “What if...” game is a safe one. Their stories are written. Our stories, though, aren’t yet set in concrete.
Part of the enormity of being human is that we are free-will agents who can choose to say “Yes” and enter the adventure of serving the living God. Or, we can say, “No”.
When the story of your life is written, will it be a story of “Yes, Lord!”? The key thing is this: When opportunity knocks, open the door.
Yours...His,
Dave
