The foyer was crowded after Sunday’s service. We had celebrated five baptisms, and people were continuing to fellowship long after the service. Then I caught it out of the corner of my eye. As a group of people began to break up and drift away, I saw one individual give what has now become an almost universal gesture: 🤙 (“Call me!”).

Signaling to someone to call is usually an indication of an existing relationship. It presupposes that the other individual has your number and that you have a genuine interest in having a conversation with them.

I believe God was the first One to initiate the “call me” trend. Not with Alexander Graham Bell’s useful instrument, but rather with His private number. In Genesis 3, God called Adam in the Garden of Eden: “But the Lord God called to the man [Adam] and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9, ESV) In a way, it was a call from God to Adam to call Him. Why? Because Adam’s sin had separated him from a holy God, and all who followed experienced that separation as well.

Over the centuries, God has continued to encourage people to call Him — not through a hand gesture, but through His prophets. In Isaiah, we are told, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) Like Adam, many of us find this to be a long-distance call because we feel far away from Him.

How can we close the distance gap? James tells us how: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

I want to draw near to God, but how do I know He hears me? “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13) I will find Him when I seek Him with all my heart.

Do I feel like He is far away? Au contraire, He says. “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?” (Jeremiah 23:23)

Feeling the need to talk? God has given us His private line in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Turn toward Him and seek Him with all your heart. He is not a God far away, and He says to you and me, “Call to me”! The line is open, and the call is free because Jesus paid the full price for your plan.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!