God's Calling

Question: John 6:44 says that God the Father draws us to Jesus Christ, and that we can’t come to Him on our own. I always thought we had free will to make our own choices, but this verse seems to say we don’t really have a choice in this. Do we have a say in the matter or not?

Answer: First, we must recognize that God wants everyone to choose eternal life (John 3:16–17). We read, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He won’t withhold His offer of salvation from anyone, and He calls each person at the right time (Romans 9:15). We learn that “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3–4).

However, God is not yet calling every human being on earth. If His current mission were to save everyone in this age, we could look at the state of our world and rightly conclude that He is failing. But that’s not what He’s doing. Many people have lived and died without ever knowing anything about Jesus Christ, and many others have only been exposed to a false version of Him and His message (2 Corinthians 11:4). But the Bible assures us that a time will come when everyone will hear the true Gospel and have the opportunity to respond (Ezekiel 37:1–14; Romans 11:26). Even so, God is calling some people before that time, as “firstfruits” (James 1:18), to proclaim His Gospel in today’s challenging environment.

In the book of Revelation, we read of two distinct groups of people who will be resurrected. One will be resurrected to eternal life as a part of God’s divine family, while the other will be resurrected to renewed physical life and have their first real opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and live in obedience to God’s loving commands (Revelation 20:4–6, 11–13). All who respond to this opportunity will later be resurrected as everlasting Spirit-beings, living on into eternity as members of the Family of God. Those who do not take this opportunity, but instead choose to rebel against God while having full knowledge of the consequences, will be executed in the Lake of Fire and never live again (vv. 14–15).

Called to Become Like God

Ever since Adam’s and Eve’s choice in Genesis 3, humanity has been trying—and failing—to solve the world’s problems without God. This failure shows us that mankind’s ways don’t lead to true happiness or fulfillment. But, even in our flawed world, God guides those He’s calling into His Church, the body of Christ, and leads them to repentance (1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:13; 2 Timothy 2:25–26).

Those who have been called and given God’s Spirit have a great responsibility to overcome sin, and the Holy Spirit they have received gives them the power to do so (Colossians 3:5–10). Their example shows the world the benefits and blessings of living by God’s law rather than mankind’s whim. This is a way we must choose, and choosing disobedience to God has serious consequences (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 6:4–6; 10:26–27). Being part of God’s Church and having the Holy Spirit doesn’t deprive us of free will; it helps us to use our will wisely.

God has always called people to stand against the wrongs of their times (Deuteronomy 8:19–20). If you’re seeking God’s truth and want to learn about your role in His kingdom, keep exploring the Bible and the various resources that Tomorrow’s World freely offers.

Ask God to guide you in understanding your role. If you’re being called now, you have the opportunity to be in the first resurrection as one of those who will make up the Bride of Jesus Christ, ruling with Him in the imminent seventh millennium of human history as part of His kingdom. What an extraordinary calling!