Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
“Are you ready to become my champion?” I will never forget the day I heard the Lord ask me that question. I was in my car on the way home from work and was listening to a message on David’s three mighty men in 2 Samuel 23. Suddenly the presence of the Lord filled the car to such a degree that I had to pull the car off to the side of the road. It was one of the most special moments of my life as I knew in my heart that the Lord had chosen me to serve in His army. I had felt called for years and had done everything I knew to do to see the calling fulfilled and in that moment I knew He had chosen me. It was a turning point for my life. Within months of that day I had moved my family to Mooresville and began pastoring our church.
As a young believer I was in a church where most of the young men and women seemed to have callings on their lives. That place was so full of destiny and expectation upon those people. Thirty years later very few of those men and women are actually fulfilling their callings. In some ways it is heartbreaking for me to think back on this not only for such lost potential in individuals but also for the unfulfilled destiny of that church. The bible is very clear on this matter:
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14
I recently read an article by Pastor Harry R. Jackson, Jr. on this verse and he stated, Some scholars believe that this passage is a reference to the method used in ancient Rome for recruiting their armies. No one was forced to serve his country in the military. Instead it was seen as a young man’s highest honor. From childhood, young men were prepared and trained with the goal that they would be fortunate if they could only measure up to the standards of Rome. The place of selection was the Campus Martius. At this location, everyone who was of military age competed in leaping, running, wrestling, strength training, fencing, javelin throwing and other Olympic-style events. They even swam the Tyber River several times! Only the most impressive men were chosen to serve Rome. The “chosen” were the best of the best.” Harry R. Jackson Jr.
Rome may have chosen the best of the best but that is not who God chooses. In fact if we had voted on least likely to be chosen I would have won hands down by a landslide margin. I was not one of the favored or choice young men in those days. At that time in my life I was just thankful that Jesus had saved me from a life of drugs, crime and immorality and filled me with the Holy Spirit.
For consider your calling , brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
The Lord has reminded me of the truth of these scriptures over the years. An apostolic leader from Zimbabwe came to our church a few years ago to minister. When he first met me he said “you are like David, you were not even invited to the gathering, but God choose you anyway”.
A close prophetic friend of mine gave me a word from Amos 7:14, he said “Byron, you’re a nobody and the son of a nobody, but the Lord is going to use you”.
Like Rome, no one is forced to serve the Lord in His army and the Lord certainly has the final say on who is actually chosen. However, He does give us a part in being chosen. In a sense we get to choose to be chosen, you do this like the Roman young men did; by esteeming the Lord’s purpose and plans for your life above all else. I endured through the trials, disappointments, sacrifices and brokenness that accompany everyone who has a true calling with the belief that one day I would surely be chosen.
2 Samuel 23:11-12 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.
That day when the Lord came in my car so powerfully and spoke to me, “are you ready to be My champion?” He came in as the speaker was reading this verse. It was one of David’s mighty men who took a stand and defended a bean field. My heart was absolutely pierced at that moment. I told the Lord, if all you have chosen me for is a bean field I will love that bean field and fight for it with everything I have.
Shammah means astonishment. I am totally astonished that the Lord choose me. I hold it as one of the highest privileges and honors of my life. For those who are called, but are of the “are nots”, the forgotten, overlooked and left out take heart; esteem and pursue that calling. I pray you will be astonished.
Many Blessings, BW