Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/74

Contributor - John J. Opmeer

Title - Yes, Lord!

Topic - Discipleship

I wonder what your ideal of a Christian is? When I ask you the question, you probably think right away of a well-known Christian, such as Billy Graham or Corrie Ten Boom. They are extraordinary Christians. Extra-ordinary, because they accomplish so much for God. Their lives, are extra-ordinary fruitful.

How come?

It is because God has blessed them with extra-ordinary gifts of personality? Is it because God has given them a special call to world-wide ministry? Or is it possible that there is something else, something which would make it possible for an ordinary person, holding an ordinary job, to live that extra-ordinary life of an ideal Christian?

Who are the candidates?

Let's see who are the candidates for being an ideal Christian? By now I have met and spoken with a. number of remarkable Christians. Some of them have written books about their life, their ministry for Christ. Reading such books often builds up a sense of awe for such persons. In your imagination, they become larger than life-size. Man, do they ever have power with God! Have you ever read a book like that? I have, but I've also had the good fortune Of meeting some of these writers. And without exception there has been a feeling of let-down. They turn out to be less than impressive at first sight! They don't ooze out self-confidence. They are capable just like you and I! Praise God for that!

For if they had made such a powerful impression at first sight, one might have concluded that they were much powerful Christians because of natural gifts of mind and personality. But since they were just 'average' on that score, such gifts were obviously not the explanation for their being extra-ordinary Christians.

So much for personality.

But how about God's special calling to world-wide ministry, or to a high position? Is that perhaps the explanation for the 'ideal' Christian life of a Billy Graham or Corrie Ten Boom? When we look at the Bible we will see that we cannot let ourselves off the hook that easily! If it would take a special call, most of us would never be a candidate for an ideal Christian.

When we read the Bible, we meet many-ordinary believers some of them, indeed, were kings, or prophets, or apostles. But others had very ordinary jobs. If they also were extra-ordinary believers it wasn't because of their call to be king or highpriest, but because of something else, something every ordinary Christian can do. What is it? It is saying, "Yes, Lord!"

I believe the ideal Christian is the one who does what his Master says.

The secret of the extra-ordinary lives of some very ordinary believers we read about in the 'Bible is that they were willing to obey the Lord, no matter how strange the order, and what trouble it might lead them into.

Ananias

To me, Ananias is an illustration of the extra-ordinary, ordinary believer. Do you remember him? You can find him in Acts 9. We know very little about him. We don't even know what job he did, or whether he was an elder in the church in Damascus. His was not a great calling. What, then, makes him a candidate for the ideal Christian? How come we even know about him? Because he said, "yes, Lord", when God told him to do something for Him.

Let's look at Ananias for a moment

We know that he was a man of of being nervous, or frustrated, prayer. How do we know that? Because God spoke to Ananias, and gave him a vision. God usually speaks only to those who speak to Him. The sensitivity of hearing God speak is developed only by those who often speak to God.

And Visions? Only once in a while does God grant a vision to a person? To what kind of person? Read your Bible. Jeremiah had visions. So did Ezekiel, Daniel, John, Paul and many others. These people were all giants in prayer.

So, Ananias was a man of prayer. You just don't get anywhere near to becoming an ideal Christian unless there is much fervent prayer in your life. But if there is, you are on the way!

Only those people who pray often and fervently are going to say, "Yes, Lord" when God tells them to do something. But not necessarily. Even they may shrink back. Look at Ananias'

God certainly gave him a tall assignment: "Rise and go . . . " (Acts 9 : 11). For a moment Ananias must have been catching his breath. Had he heard aright? Go to this fellow Saul, who was chasing Christians as if they were wild animals? Was Saul praying? Was Saul blind? And should he, Ananias, lay hands on him for healing?

I think that this is the crucial moment. Here the men are separated from the boys. Here it will be decided whether one is going to be a defeated Christian or a victorious one.

Suppose ...

Suppose Ananias would have said: "Lord, I don't think that this is You, this is just a bad dream." Or suppose he would have answered: "Lord, it doesn't make sense but whatever it means, I can't do it; it's too dangerous; It must be a trick .

And then Ananias would have prayed, "Lord, help me to understand Your will; help me to grow in faith; make me a strong believer." But I am sure, in that case, the Lord would not have spoken again to Ananias for a long time!

Look at these giants of faith in the Bible. God wants us to understand that every single one of them had a willing spirit, but weak flesh! "Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves......... James 5 :17).

Suppose Abraham would have said to God, when God told him to sacrifice his son: "But Lord, this cannot be You, You are much too loving for that; this is so confusing . . You don't mean it, Lord. Sorry, I can't do it; anything else, but not this."

But Abraham said, "Yes, Lord."

Suppose 'Gideon, looking down from- the hillside at the mighty army of Midianites, had thought, "Does God really want me to tell my 300 men to light their torches and blow their trumpets, waking up that whole army? I must have misunderstood, this is plain foolishness."

But Gideon said, "Yes, Lord". Abraham, Gideon, Elijah, Ananias - they were all mere mortals, like we ourselves. I'm sure they were scared. I'm sure they were in doubt whether it was really the voice of their Lord. I'm sure each one of them entertained the fleeting thought, "How can I get out of this?" But all of them said, "Yes, Lord".

And so, Ananias, this common workman, when God told him: ,Go, for Saul is a chosen instrument of mine," said "Yes, Lord, I'll go" .. . .

He didn't do it in self-pity ,Why does God select me for such a dangerous mission?" He didn't do it grumbling - "Why do I have to make a fool of myself?" He goes trusting and obeying, even loving his persecutor whom God has told him to bless. . . He says, "Brother Saul" - God never told him that.

The greatness of Ananias, of any man's life can be measured by one's surrender to the will Of God!

How about ourselves?

Then who are the candidates for ideal Christians? We are. There 'Is an Ananias in each one of God's children, Whatever our personalities, natural gifts or supernatural callings, we are all invited to that wonderful adventure of being yielded to God in trust and obedience. And anyone engaged in this adventure lives an extra-ordinary life!

I believe that this is good news for ordinary flesh and blood mortals, like all of us are, with our weaknesses, and the fear that is mingled with our faith. For we also know that no matter how afraid we are, no mater how long it takes, and no matter how many failures are necessary, we may all learn to do whatever God tells us to do, saying, "Yes, Lord!"

Is that really our ideal, to say, "Yes, Lord" regardless of the circumstances, even if it gets us into trouble, even if we may have to be a fool for Christ, even if we have to -say 'No' to our own desires, plans or ambitions?

Praise God for putting that ideal in our hearts. Thank Him for showing us the secret that explains the extra-ordinary usefulness to Him of an Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Elijah, or Ananias.

It is the obedience of faith. It is saying, Yes, Lord!" not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord!

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