If we Build it, He will come

The Voice in Field of Dreams (1989) starring Kevin Costner says, “If you build it, he will come,” alluding to the future mystery appearance of Shoeless Joe Jackson and other 1919 Chicago White Sox players at the field to be built.

The plot involves the faith of lead Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) to go ahead and build the field for the mythical players to play on. These voices are compelling yet he must believe in order to go ahead and invest time and money in building the ‘field of dreams.’

This film--like so many--is steeped in theology.

It speaks a lot about what we do in advance of the blessings of God; fortune, merit, peace, providence. When I think of ministers who sought to preach the gospel ardently, they ‘built’ their ministry so that God would ‘come’ in the midst of their mandate. They knew it was their exclusive divine appointment; their place, their way, their season.

A.W. Tozer concerned himself with the depth of his ministry and left the breadth of his ministry completely up to the Holy Spirit. One senses he never submitted to the call of men, only to the call of God.

MacArthur, again, wisely reminds us that if we concern ourselves with the “depth” of our ministry, God will see to the “breadth” of it.[1]

If we wish to be successful we place our faith in the Lord our God, and we work hard at whatever our passion of vocation is--in faith--if we build it, he will come. If you are called by God, genuinely, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” –1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV). He will faithfully uphold genuine servants of Christ.

The call comes in the most amazing and sublime ways, yet it can come too in the least surprising ways too. The main thing is to respond to the call. Os Guinness says that, “calling subverts the deadly modern idolatry of choice.”[2] We are called and the life chooses us; this is truly a very, very good thing, though a frightening thing, at least initially. It invariably leaves us no other choice. But, there’s a cool peace in that.

If we can only go in one direction; if we find the pull to a particular way--a good way--is too hard to resist, we must start designing to build. Then, finally, when all is ready, he will come. It only requires a little mustard seed of faith, and courage of faith to start.

Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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ENDNOTES:
[1] John MacArthur, Ashamed Of The Gospel (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1993), p. 74.
[2] Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Nashville, Tennessee: W Publishing Group of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1998), p. 167.