The call of Abram: Now the LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Jordan Peterson's insight into this verse is interesting (Biblical series IX). He says that our dreams and interests move us away from our country and the comforts of our childhood home, and into something that’s beyond us. Faith recognizes that it's God who puts these dreams and interests there in the first place. They are the first indication of His voice calling us to be more than we are.  He has plans and a destiny for  our lives, good plans, plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  He  put eternity in our hearts,  and He knows what will best fulfill us (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Many of us have this view of God that He would only call us into something we would hate, a missionary in Africa for example. But His plans are good plans, in fact following Him to “the land I will show you, ” is the only way we will be truly fulfilled in life.  And fear of the unknown is one of the many things that stops us from moving forward into the unknown, into an adventure with Him that He will show us if we let Him.  As a clinician Peterson over and over sees people who have resisted this call with disastrous results. They finish up with a meaningless life that leaves them ill equipped to deal with the pain and the chaos of life.  He says “And, worse, you’ll know that it was your fault, that you squandered what you could have had. This is not only a calling forth, but it’s a warning.”

Not writing from a position of faith in the God of the Bible,  he can offer no real hope to those of us who have utterly failed (we'll  look at that tomorrow)! But the picture of conversion as a new birth, a new start  (John 3:3ff) gives the idea.  Peterson again “You don’t know what’s possible, and you’re not as much as you could be. God only knows what you could do,  have,  and give,  if you sacrificed everything to it.”

The story of the toy pearls comes to mind. She was a little girl and she loved them. Her father asked her to give them up, and she wrestled and wrestled with it, until she finally did,  choosing to trust him. He then gives her a real pearl necklace. Peterson once more “You have to sacrifice that which is most valuable to you that is stopping you going forward.” The pearls are symbolic of course, and our heavenly father  knows how to give good gifts.  Jesus came so that we might have life in all it's fullness (John 10:10).  Coming to faith is not just about giving up something that hinders our moving forward. We are not just called out of that,  no we are called into the fullness of life of a life of faith that He will “show us.”

Father, forgive us Lord for thinking that You are some kind of Scrooge in the sky, just waiting to condemn us.  You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You, and You know how to give good gifts to Your children (Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 7:11). Teach us to trust You Lord,  to let go,  and let God. I know we will not be disappointed! We pray these things  in Jesus Name Amen