Unanswered Calls

I don’t like talking on the phone, and I don’t understand why other people do. In fact, I dislike it so much that I used to have my little sister make phone calls for me, like my own personal secretary who never got paid.

It’s ridiculous when I think about it, but my sister liked talking on the phone, and she agreed, so I took advantage. My sister still likes talking on the phone. She calls sometimes just to see what I’m doing or because she’s bored, and I admit, I’m not the best phone conversationalist (surprise, surprise), so our calls aren’t too lengthy.

Unless I’m expecting a phone call, I won’t even answer my cell phone if I don’t recognize the number. I figure, if it’s important, whoever is calling will leave a message. If they don’t, it’s not vital or it’s a spam call.

However, when I need to call someone and they don’t answer the phone, it can be aggravating, especially when it’s something important. That sounds a little hypocritical of me, doesn’t it? That’s because it is.

We also have a landline, which is becoming a rarity. However, I’m more apt to answer my landline phone because I know that very few people have that number, and if someone is calling it, it’s probably significant.

If we don’t make it to the landline in time to answer, if it’s a strange number on caller ID, or if we’re not home, the caller can leave a message on the answering machine, and we’ll get it later.

Do you remember when landlines would just give a busy signal if someone was already on the phone? It could be so annoying because you would call and call someone, and it could be hours before the phone line would free up so your call could get through. I also know some people (not me this time) who would just leave their phone off the hook when they didn’t want to talk to anyone.

Then, call waiting came along, where you can essentially put who you’re currently talking to on hold while you “click” over to answer the other call coming in. Then, you either tell them to call you back later or click back over and end the other conversation so you can talk to the new caller.

I think of phone calls in relation to God and how He tries to communicate with us. Matthew 22:14 reminds us that, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” You can’t be chosen if you don’t answer the call.

When God tries to talk to you or tries calling you to a specific task, how do you respond? Do you answer the metaphorical phone and have a conversation with Him, or do you not pick up and hope He either calls back later when it’s more convenient for you or leaves a message you can come back to on your own time?

Does the Lord get a busy signal from you when He calls because you don’t want to be bothered or because you’re engrossed with other things in your life? Do you utilize “call waiting” with God, and say “hang on Lord, I want to talk to you, but I just need to finish this other conversation or this task first before I can get back to you?” Think of how the Lord feels when you ignore His calls or put Him on hold.

I’ve done all these things I’m ashamed to admit. When the Lord was calling me to do more for Him and start this blog, I didn’t answer right away. While I was in graduate school, God was getting a busy signal from me because I didn’t even have “my phone” on the hook during that time.

When I finished school and was starting my new career, I let His calls go to voicemail, thinking I’d get back to Him when it was more convenient for me. As my work and personal life fell into a routine, God kept calling and I’d answer but end up putting Him on hold to handle other responsibilities that I was dealing with.

Luckily, our God is a patient and persevering God. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9).

God didn’t stop calling me until I finally answered Him. I’m glad He was persistent, and I’m glad I answered, “yes.”

Hello?

Think about how you answer your phone. If you know who’s calling you, do you answer in a different manner than you do when you’re not sure who’s number is flashing on your screen? I definitely do.

Is God in your contact list? Do you recognize His number when He calls? How are you answering Him, or are you?

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent…” (Romans 10:14-15a).

We can learn a lot from one biblical woman who answered God’s call in a big way, even when it could have cost her everything. That woman was Mary of Nazareth.

You can read about Mary, the mother of Jesus to a different extent in each of the four gospels, but I will focus on Luke 1:26-38.

Now, the Lord called Mary in a special way, by sending the angel Gabriel to her with a message. “The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,’” (Luke 1:28).

Could you imagine coming face-to-face with the angel Gabriel? I don’t think I could form any words in that situation, and I can understand Mary’s reaction. “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be,” (Luke 1:29). When you get a call from someone unexpectedly, do you get a little leery, wondering why they are contacting you?

Gabriel then reassured Mary and gave her God’s message that she would bear a son whom she should name Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end,” (Luke 1:32-33).

Because she was a virgin, Mary obviously didn’t understand how this could be possible, but Gabriel explained the miracle of Jesus’ conception to her and reminded her that nothing is impossible for the Lord. “For no word from God will ever fail,” (Luke 1:37). Amen to that!

Now, Mary could have easily put up a busy signal, saying, “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I’m too young, and I’m to be married. I’ve got all these plans for myself. My reputation would be ruined. I could lose all that I have. I just can’t possibly take this responsibility on.” She could have said, “Sorry, but you’ve got the wrong number, the wrong woman.” She could have said all those things, BUT she didn’t.

Instead, she stepped out in faith and put all her worldly duties and concerns on the back burner when she answered God’s call. “’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me according to your word,’” (Luke 1:38).

Unlike me, Mary said “yes” to God after His first call. If you’re like me and don’t answer the Lord’s calls right away, He’ll keep trying until you do, one way or another. When you finally answer whatever call He’s directing to you whether that be the call to salvation, the call to ministry, the call to missions, etc., I pray that your answer is as Mary’s: “I am your servant, Lord!”

Unlisted

Do you remember, back in the day, if you didn’t know someone’s phone number, you would use this magic thing called a phone book to find it?

Do you still get a phone book every year? I do, but I also live in a small community. However, every year, that book gets thinner. Now, most people have a cell phone instead of a landline, and there are no phone books for cell phone numbers.

If those with a landline don’t want to be bombarded with calls, they can request to have their number omitted from the phone book…or unlisted. Then, their number isn’t accessible to just anyone, only to those they provide it to.

Once more, I think of this regarding God contacting us. Now, obviously God can do anything because He’s God. However, I’m speaking in metaphors here. There must be some pathway for God to get in touch with us. These days, there are many ways to contact people apart from dialing a phone, such as messaging, texting, snap chatting, and video calling, but we’ll stick to phone calls today.

As I mentioned earlier, my family does have a landline phone. We don’t use it often, but it was part of our internet package when we first purchased it, so it’s there if we need it. We also have an unlisted phone number because, yes, I don’t like just anyone having access to my number.

Occasionally, I’ll answer our home phone when the number is a local one, and it will be someone asking for a person I’ve never heard of. They’ve dialed the wrong number. Fortunately for us, God is all-knowing, so He’s not going to call the wrong person. When He calls us, He has a specific plan.

“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it,” (Isaiah 55:11).

When you reach out to God, you expect Him to answer you, right? If not, it’s frustrating…when you feel like God isn’t answering you or if He’s making you wait on a response from Him. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear,” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

More importantly, I’ll ask, are you in God’s book? If we cut ourselves off from communication with God, He can’t reach us. God can’t call a number He doesn’t have, and He can’t look that number up if it’s unlisted.

I don’t want to be omitted from God’s book, and I don’t want you to be either. “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire,” (Revelation 20:15).

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life,” (Revelation 21:22-27).

Are you listed in the Book of Life today? If not, I pray you will answer God’s call to salvation and get a spot on His contact list. I would hate for that day to come when you finally contact God only to hear this message: “I never knew you; depart from me.”

Have a blessed week!

-Becky