“Hello God,” said the man, adjusting his tie as the sweat gathered in the palms of his hands. “Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the job.”
“Please be seated at my feet,” God replied, collecting the man’s resume from the top of the endless pile of the world’s resumes.
The man looked uneasily at the ground, then seated himself as requested just the same. After all, he wanted the job. “Are there any questions I can answer?” the man said, clearing his throat in an effort to hide his shaking voice.
“Your resume is very long,” God commented as he perused page after page.
“Yes,” the man answered eagerly, sighing. At last, he had caught God’s attention.
“And you have many degrees,” God noted, looking briefly at the man by his feet before he returned his stare to the resume.
“I’ve worked for years on my resume, toiled and strived and labored,” the man said, excited, beginning to feel a confidence about his interview with God.
“I’d like to ask you a few questions,” God said. “I would also like to remind you first this interview is not about heaven. You’re already guaranteed admission into heaven through faith in my Son. This is about the job you applied for on earth.”
“Yes, yes,” the man said, his breath quickening. Surely this was a good sign.
“You would like to work for me on earth,” God said. “Now I do want you to know this position does not pay very well. In fact, it does not pay well at all in the way of money. Your sole reward is the blessing of serving.”
“Yes, I know that,” the man said, “But just the same I would like to work for you.”
“Your resume is very long, and it’s very full. You have numerous references. You have much experience. You have more degrees than I believe I’ve ever seen on a resume.”
“Yes, I’m still paying off my debt for all the schooling,” the man said, a bit dejected. “But it’s worth it,” he added quickly, not wanting for God to see his frustration.
“Why don’t I help you out here,” God said, setting down his resume. “Why don’t I tell you exactly what I’m looking for.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful!” the man said, looking up at God.
“I’m really not concerned with your resume. In fact, much of this could get in the way.”
“Meaning?”
“Son, this is what I desire. First, I want you to love me with all your heart and mind. Do you?”
“Well, of course I do. I do get a bit distracted, and I do love a bunch of things, but I have enough love to love you and everything else.”
“Ahem.”
“Yes, God, please go on.”
“I want you to love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Oh absolutely, God,” the man rushed in. “I love everyone in my neighborhood. I live in a very small neighborhood. And certainly I love everyone there.”
“Your neighbor isn’t just the person who lives next door, you know,” God reminded the man. “Your neighbor may live across the world. Let me ask you something.”
“Yes?”
“Do you love the homeless man who begs you at the stoplight just before your neighborhood for food to eat?”
“Well – “
“And do you love your spouse who left you for another woman and is choosing to divorce you?”
“But – “
“Well, let’s move on to another subject. Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone to work for me? Are you willing to leave all the familiar people and places if I ask you to?”
“Now that’s – ” the man interjected.
“Will you walk forward even when you cannot see? Will you walk by faith in me and not according to what you see or hear in the world around you? Will you follow my voice as a sheep would follow his shepherd?
“They didn’t train you to do anything of this in school, or at your previous jobs, did they?” God said.
The man was silent.
“And what about my Word, the Bible? You have spent years studying your textbooks? But what about my Word? Do you study and live by my Word?
“Perhaps the most important question I need to ask you before we end the interview is this. Why exactly do you want to work for me, Son?”
The man buried his face in his hands in a futile effort to hide the tears that drizzled from his soul sad eyes.
“It’s okay, Son. There is nothing I will not forgive if you confess it to me.”
“Will you really forgive me if I tell you the truth?” the man said, peering one eye out above one of his hands.
“Come to my mercy seat, child,” God said. “Take your hands off your eyes. Look unto me.”
The man looked warily up at the Lord.
“I already know everything about you,” God reminded the man.
“You know why I applied for the job working for you,” the man said, hungry for mercy.
“Yes,” God said simply.
“I thought it would look good on my resume,” the man confessed.
“And you thought you would earn my love and grace by laboring for me,” God added.
“Child, I could not love you more than I already do. I love you with an everlasting love. And I do have a job for you, one that is more important than any other. And I would like to accept you for this position.”
“Wow, even after all the mistakes I’ve made?”
“Absolutely,” God said gently.
“I would like you to love me with all your heart, to love your neighbor as yourself, to leave your comfort zone, to walk by faith in me, and to go wherever I call. I am looking for laborers for my harvest, and that is exactly what I need. It will take no university degree, and no resume is needed. What I need above all else is your heart and your life, and the reward will be beyond measure.”
“Is it too late to apply for this position? Will you forgive me for all I have done wrong?”
“I forgive you,” God said, reaching out His hand. “Here, let me help you up. We have a job to do.”
The man grabbed onto the Lord’s hand and stood in the light of His presence.
“You, my son, are accepted in the beloved, just as my Word says. I have chosen you, not only because I have called you. But because you have answered and have the willing heart I desire.
“Come, now, child, we have a job to do.”
“Thank you, God.”
“There is a world that needs to know my love. Come, let’s begin.”
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27 KJV