Many are called but few

I can’t remember how or when exactly I first came across Love Does by Bob Goff. It’s definitely a page turner and life changer–if you so let it. Bob is a natural storyteller. Almost inconceivably, he shares countless harrowing adventures mostly in the name of God. He seems to have already lived a hundred lives. If I had to sum up the collective wisdom of his story and adventures, it would be…stop simply studying Jesus and start living Jesus. Because in the end…Love Does. It is not a theologically deep work, rather simplistically transformational.

So, when his second book Everybody Always debuted, I couldn’t wait to see what came next. Bob shares more almost inconceivable stories of living out God’s Word. He lives out the Word in remote villages of Africa and busy California airports the same. Each person uniquely identified and ministered too.

But as I read his story, I realized the practical applications and challenges of living out God’s Word. For example, God open Bob’s eyes to the injustice of child sacrifice occurring in Uganda. Today, witch doctors are still known for sacrificing children or the genitalia of children. In some cases, once the genitalia are removed the child is left to die. Because witch doctors are feared and revered by the community, they are never held accountable for their actions. Most victims die and almost no one is willing to testify against the witch doctor.

Years before God opened Bob’s eyes to this injustice, Bob had walked into the office of the chief justice of the Ugandan Supreme Court. He showed up without an appointment and requested a meeting with the judge. Surprisingly he was ushered in and left the meeting with a new friend who happened to be the second most powerful man in the country.

So once God opened Bob’s eyes to the injustice at the hands of the witch doctors. Bob had a choice. He could step out or do nothing. Bob decided to step out.

For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14 KJV)

Bob called his friend the chief justice. The chief justice agreed if Bob was able to find a case and a witness, Bob could bring it to court. It would be the first time such a crime had been tried in Uganda.

As soon as Bob learned a child had survived having his genitalia removed by a witch doctor and left for dead, he knew he had a witness. Bob hopped on a plane to Uganda to meet the 8 year-old boy. Over the next several months, Bob and his team developed a relationship with this boy and developed their case.

What started as a case against a witch doctor developed into bringing a child into his home, justice being rendered, hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, receiving a call from a stranger offering to do the impossible and meeting with a President. And if that doesn’t seem inconceivable enough, you will never believe what happens to the witch doctor/doctors.

Lest I digress, let us focus in. What if Bob had never mustered the courage to show up unannounced at the office of the Chief Justice? What if the guards and machine guns had scared him off? What if when God opened his eyes to the injustices occurring at the hands of the witch doctors, Bob just sat on it? What if when Bob received a call that a child had survived, he was too busy or too broke to hop on a plane and develop a case? What if when justice was rendered, Bob left the child and Uganda and washed his hands of the whole thing–job done?? What if when God told Bob to love the unlovable, Bob said…no way??

The truth is when he sought first His Kingdom–justice for the oppressed, all these things were added unto him. Things like hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, meeting a President, receiving a call from a stranger offering to do the impossible and certainly God’s plan for a witch doctor.

Just like Max Lucado said: God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile. 

It couldn’t have been easy or cheap to fly to Uganda or ask to meet with the Chief Justice. I’m guessing it was a little intimidating to prosecute a witch doctor especially when his friends start placing “curses” on those involved. I’m guessing it’s a little awkward to invite strangers in and expensive to pay their way. Maybe even a little time consuming to pursue the impossible. But I’m guessing if I were to ask Bob, he’d say the arrival was worthwhile.

Maybe the problem is not whether God calls, but whether I choose to follow.

Lord teach me to choose you. Teach me to live in such a way I have the courage, strength, time and money to say “yes”.