The Ideal Candidate

The Ascension always makes me think of what a job listing on Indeed.com would look like for the position of Disciple of Jesus Christ.

“An exciting opportunity for the go-getter who loves a challenge. Multilingual skills a must. Animal handling experience preferred. The ideal candidate will have a strong stomach and an enthusiasm for travel.”

In all seriousness, I find the Ascension a little depressing, a little intimidating. This day forces me to confront how few are the qualifications I possess to carry out the Great Commission.

Proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Hold on — do I have to talk to people? I don’t even really like calling my friends on their birthdays. Can I send a text instead?

Go into the whole world. All of it? Everywhere? Even the places where it’s really, really humid? Could I possibly schedule a Zoom call?

Speak new languages … pick up serpents … drink any deadly thing … Okay, full disclosure: I have never even been camping. I don’t think I’m the right fit for this job. Thank you for your consideration, but you can lose my resumé.

Of course, I know that in the year 2024 God does not expect me to pick up a serpent to proclaim the Gospel. But He might expect me to do something far more stomach-churning. He might expect me to talk about Him — in public, in front of strangers. He might expect me to take a stand against something that I know is sinful, even though it means I lose every friend I have. He might expect me to say “no” when everyone wants me to say “yes,” or “yes” when everyone wants me to say “no.”

He might expect me to be different. He will expect me to be different. 

But on the Ascension, I also remember this: it’s okay. No one who ever did the work of God was the ideal candidate. They were all scared. They were all ill-equipped. Every single one of them.

They did it anyway. And despite the weakness and hesitancy of my mortal flesh, despite everything that seems logical, despite the recommendations of any hiring committee this temporal world might make — I can, too.

“I am with you always, until the end of the world.” — Matthew 28:20

©LPi