1. God’s Call and Our Sense of Mission

World Scripture

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
Genesis 12.1

Believers, be God’s helpers. When Jesus the son of Mary said to the disciples, “Who will help me on the way to God?” they replied, “We are God’s helpers.”
Qur’an 61.14

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the peoples, a light to the nations, To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 42.6-7

Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying… for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.
Acts 9.3-18

I, an idle bard, by Thee am a task assigned: In primal time I was commanded night and day to praise Thee. The bard was summoned by the Master to the Eternal Mansion, and honored with the robe of divine laudation and praise. On the holy Name ambrosial he was feasted. As by the Master’s guidance on this he has feasted, has felt blessed, the bard has spread and proclaimed divine praise by the holy Word.
Adi Granth, Var Majh, M.1, p. 150 (Sikhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

God’s plan is to call good individuals out of the sinful world and have them… accomplish His work. Thus did God call Abraham out of the sinful world to be the standard-bearer of goodness and blessed him with descendants who would uphold the Will of God.
(Exposition of the Divine Principle, Parallels 7.1)

God’s providence of salvation—a work of re-creation—cannot be completed in an instant. It begins from one point and gradually expands to cover the whole.

Therefore, in the providence of salvation, God first predestines one person to be the central figure and then calls him to a mission… God, being omniscient, foreknows who has the qualifications necessary to become a central figure in the providence of restoration. God predestines those whom He foreknows; then He calls upon him to fulfill the purpose of the providence.

Calling the person is God’s responsibility, but that alone does not entitle the person to be justified before God and given glory. Only when the person completes his responsibility after being called by God is he justified and then glorified.
(Exposition of the Divine Principle, Predestination 3-4)

Fallen people’s spiritual sensibility is extremely dull. Hence, they generally tend to adhere strictly to the letter of the truth in their efforts to follow God’s providence. Such people cannot readily adjust themselves to the dispensation of the new age, even though the providence of restoration is moving toward it. They are generally too strongly attached to the outdated perspective provided by the doctrines of the old age. This is well illustrated by the case of the Jewish people of Jesus’ day who were so attached to the Old Testament that they could not respond to Jesus’ call to open a new chapter of the providence. On the other hand, those believers who receive divine inspiration through prayer are able to grasp spiritually the providence of the new age. Even though this may put them at odds with the doctrines of the old age, they will still respond to the promptings of the Spirit and follow the calling of the new dispensation.
(Exposition of the Divine Principle, Eschatology 5.2)

Ten years ago God sent me to America, the representative nation of the free world, and directed me to speak His message to all Americans. If people ask me, “Reverend Moon, what is your purpose here?” I would tell them, “When people are sick, they send out for a doctor. Since the American people are sick, I came from the East as a doctor to heal America. America is burning. I am the firefighter who will put out the flames.” This is what I am fulfilling.
(123:320, January 9, 1983)

Each of us should think: “God has expectations for me; He tells me to build a new world. He commissioned me with the responsibility to resolve all the complicated problems of the past. Then, what is my position? I am not an ordinary individual who is perishing; now I belong to humankind, the world, and my Heavenly Father.” Our hearts should be awe-struck over the fact that we have been called, although we are an unworthy people and an unworthy lot. While countless others who volunteered themselves in service of their nation were not chosen, God chose us and made us His children. For this we should have grateful minds and reverent hearts.
(9:344, January 30, 1960)

What more could I ask for, that in these historical Last Days, I could be appointed as an object partner to my lonely God? Is there anything more I could ask for? Even if I die, my bones crushed into powder and dispersed in the wind, could I hold any resentment? The world will always have plenty of worthless lives, people who die like pigs and dogs.
(62:140, September 17, 1972)