By God’s Altar & You
When God Calls You Out of What You’ve Always Known
There comes a moment in every believer’s life when God doesn’t just speak—He calls. Not into comfort, not into clarity, but into faith.
This was the story of Abraham.
Before he was ever called “the father of faith,” before promises were fulfilled, before righteousness was declared – Abraham was simply a man living in a system he had always known. A man from Ur of the Chaldeans, raised in a culture that worshipped other gods (Joshua 24:2).
And yet, God chose him.
Not because he was perfect.
Not because he followed every rule.
Not because he had it all together.
God chose him—and then called him out.
Justification: What It Really Means to Be Made Right with God
Justification is one of the most powerful truths in Scripture.
It is when God declares a person righteous – not based on human effort, but by His divine grace.
In a time when there were eventually 613 laws that governed righteousness, Abraham stood as a contradiction to religious thinking. He was declared righteous before the law existed, before circumcision, before religious systems were established.
Genesis 15:6 says:
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
This means righteousness is not earned—it is credited.
It is not about performance.
It is about faith.
The Cost of Obedience: What Did Abraham Really Give Up?
When God spoke in Genesis 12:1, the instruction was clear—but not detailed:
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
God did not give Abraham the full plan.
He gave him a command.
And that command cost him everything:
- His homeland
- His family
- His security
- His belief systems
- His predictability
- His possessions
- His culture
- His Identity
- The structure he knew
Abraham was wealthy, established, and secure – yet he chose obedience over comfort.
Hebrews 11:8 reveals the depth of this act:
“By faith Abraham… obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
This is the kind of obedience that defines true faith.
Called Out of Systems, Even Religious Ones
Sometimes, when God calls you, He is not just moving you physically – He is calling you out of yourself.
Out of:
- Old mindsets
- Familiar patterns
- Cultural conditioning
- Even religious spirits
Yes – even religion can become a barrier when it replaces relationship.
You cannot truly hear God without relationship.
And relationship is not occasional – it is a lifestyle.
Trusting God Without Full Clarity
One of the greatest lessons from Abraham’s life is this:
You will not always have full instructions—but you must obey anyway.
Abraham built a life of trust before he was ever declared righteous.
He followed God without clarity.
He moved without a map.
He trusted without guarantees.
And because of that, righteousness was credited to him.
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Used by God
Abraham was not flawless.
- He struggled with doubt
- He questioned God’s promises
- He even laughed when told he would have a son
Yet God still justified him.
Why?
Because justification is not based on perfection—it is based on faith and humility.
This should free every believer from the pressure of performance.
Your role is not to be perfect.
Your role is to be humble, obedient, and teachable.
The Danger of Misunderstanding Righteousness
When people believe they must earn righteousness, disappointment becomes inevitable.
And disappointment is dangerous.
If not addressed, it can lead to:
- Bitterness
- Confusion
- Blaming God
- A hardened heart
This is where many begin to drift – and some fall into something far more serious. Apostacy.
Apostasy vs. Backsliding: Know the Difference
Not every struggle means you’ve fallen away—but there is a difference you must understand.
Backsliding
- A spiritual struggle or decline
- Falling into sin
- Still connected to God
- Open to repentance
Apostasy
- A deliberate rejection of Christ
- Turning away after knowing the truth
- Hardened unbelief
- Refusal to repent
Hebrews 6:4–6 and Hebrews 10:26–27 warn us clearly:
Apostasy is not weakness – it is rejection.
It is the abandoning of a once-held truth.
God’s Discipline Is Proof of His Love
When you belong to God, correction is not punishment – it is love.
Hebrews 12:6 reminds us:
“The Lord disciplines the one He loves.”
Discipline means you are still His.
It means He has not given up on you.
Salvation Is Not the End – It Is the Beginning
Receiving Christ is not the finish line – it is the starting point.
It is the beginning of:
- Relationship
- Growth
- Transformation
- Trust
A life with God is not built on moments – it is built on consistency.
When You Can’t Feel God, Trust Him Anyway
There will be seasons where God feels distant.
Moments where:
- You don’t feel His presence
- You don’t hear His voice clearly
- You feel disconnected
In those moments, do not fall into guilt.
Instead, pray:
“Lord, reveal Yourself to me in a way I can understand.”
Because true trust is not built on feelings – it is built on faith.
The Question That Remains
Just like Abraham, God is still calling today.
Calling people out of:
- Comfort
- Control
- Systems
- Fear
- Religion without relationship
The question is not whether God is calling.
The question is:
Are you willing to answer?
Are you willing to obey without clarity?
Are you willing to let go of everything familiar?
Because on the other side of obedience is something greater than comfort –
It is righteousness, purpose, and divine alignment with God.
Notes from Dr Euvonka Farabee, Guest Lecturer at Spirit Life School of Theology and Minister’s Training Instutute. USA.
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