When the Lord began speaking to Donn and me about Japan in 2001, we thought we’d go to OMS* Japan in August, 2001, on a ten-day mission trip and then decide if it was a good fit for us. However, first we went to the OMS annual Conference in July where OMS was celebrating 100 years of ministry. Bruce Wilkinson (Prayer of Jabez) was the keynote speaker with the theme: “Expanding Your Borders.”

After his first message on Friday morning, Bruce told us OMS had a goal of at least 101 people volunteering to go into missions with OMS for six months or more. We’d been given a hand out when we came into the meeting with options to check showing different lengths of time to which we could commit. Bruce gave an opportunity to go forward for those who were ready to make that commitment. I was ready, but when I gave Donn a “What do you say?” look, he said, “Maybe, but I’m not ready to sign on the dotted line yet.” Bruce had said he’d give another opportunity the next day, so for the rest of that day I waited and prayed.                                                                                    

Before we went to bed that night, Donn said, “I think we can go and shake Bruce’s hand tomorrow.” He went on to say that God had spoken to him through Scripture and put his mind at rest about this decision. When Bruce gave the invitation on Saturday, we almost ran to the front along with many other volunteers. The total for the two days was 110 people. It was an amazing experience.

The next day we started our eight-hour trip home, planning to stop at a church along the way to worship. Watching the time and looking for churches that fit into our time frame, we pulled into the parking lot of the First Missionary Church. The name seemed to fit the occasion and that day, their Director of Missions was speaking. Rev. Mann spoke passionately about the urgent needs in missions.

He told about a little boy named Billy from down the street who was hanging out with him one day. They heard Billy’s mother call once, then twice, then a third time. Rev. Mann said, “Billy, your mother’s calling. This is the third time she’s called. Don’t you think you should answer?” Billy responded, “No, it’s okay. She’ll call again.”  Our speaker said, “I believe that’s often how we respond when God calls us. We ignore Him and say, ‘It’s okay. He’ll call again.’ ” Donn leaned over and whispered, “If I hadn’t said ‘Yes,’ I’d be feeling very convicted right now!”

We believe the Holy Spirit led us to that church as another confirmation of our call to missions. Of course, God knew all along that Donn was going to respond to the second call the day before, but I was comforted by the fact that even if he hadn’t, God already had another opportunity planned for him at the First Missionary Church the following day!

The Bible is filled with accounts of people who didn’t say yes the first time God called, Jonah  being perhaps the most famous. After going in the opposite direction God had asked him to go and surviving a deadly experience, Jonah 3:2 says, “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” This time he went to Ninevah!

Then there was Moses who responded to God’s call with a series of questions and excuses, ending with, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” He went only when God promised to send Aaron to do the talking. (Exodus 4:13) He was followed by Gideon who also questioned God’s choice of him (“the least in my family”), and God’s choice of someone in his clan (“My clan is the weakest in Manasseh…” Judges 6:15) and asked not for one sign but two. Also, Barak who declined to do what God commanded him unless Deborah went with him. (Judges 4)

I certainly don’t advocate ever ignoring God when He calls, but in the end, it isn’t our first response that counts but whether or not we are ultimately obedient. In Jesus’ parable of the two sons, the first son responded to his father’s request to work in the vineyard saying, “I will not,” but later went, while the second son said, “I will, sir,” but did not go. Jesus said, “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (Matthew 21:28-31) Obviously, it was the first son in spite of his initial negative response.

So where do you fall in the spectrum of being willing or unwilling when God calls? I have never been so tempted to ignore Him, or pretend I didn’t hear, as when He first began to speak to me about Japan, but what rich experiences and relationships we would have missed if I had. ( And God only knows what “Jonah-type” storms we may have encountered.) If you think the cost of obedience is too high, ponder instead what the cost of disobedience may be.                                                                                          OMS Headquarters                                                                                                                                     with President David Long             

Father, forgive us when we choose to ignore you when the cost of obedience seems too high. Help us trust that Psalm 18:30 is true: “As for God, His way is perfect.” Amen.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

*OMS (OMS International in 2001, now called One Mission Society) is an international interdenominational organization started in Japan in 1901.  David Long was the president of OMSI at the time of the picture above.