One of the things which made our tour guide, Franco, such a fantastic tour guide is that he always let us know when we would be having an upcoming restroom break, and he always took us to places where there were no lines! At all. Which is somewhat of a miracle, considering how Rome was nothing but masses and crowds of people!
After pausing at the Arch of Titus, Franco led us down a fairly straight path through the Roman Forum, with ruins and ancient remains on both our left and right-hand side.
We reached the end of this path here, in the far back corner of the Forum grounds. Off to the right is where we paused for the Restrooms. Franco told us we could have about 10 minutes to stop here.
When our 10 minutes was just about up, those of us in our small tour group were hanging out in the shade here and there … and there were a couple back there … and a few more over there. We each still had our earpiece in our ear. Franco still had his “master radio” on … and we all could hear him chatting away in Italian with some people over on the far side of the Restroom building.
All of a sudden, we heard his voice in our earpiece: “Alors. Ok, let’s go.”
We couldn’t see Franco … he was over on the other side of the building, making his way around to this side. But as one, in unison, all 15 of us moved from our places in the shade and started following him.
The phrase which immediately popped into my head was: “Called out.” Ekklesia.
The word “ekklesia” or “ecclesia” is a Greek word which is translated in the New Testament as “church.”
Anyone who has made the decision to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior is “called out.” Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to be our “tour guide” (so to speak) and we now have the “earpiece” of the Holy Spirit speaking to us in our soul.
Just like our tour guide Franco called us out when he said: “Alors. Ok, let’s go.” … so also, in the same way, the Holy Spirit speaks into the hearts of all who love and follow Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin … warning us if we are straying too close to sin, or rebuking us if we are currently in sin. The Holy Spirit teaches us and instructs us in Truth. The Holy Spirit gives guidance and wisdom for decisions we make. The Holy Spirit leads us in the ways of Righteousness.
When our tour guide Franco called us out, we immediately rose from our respective places and began following him. Nobody else hanging out in the general area stirred or moved. Nobody else heard what Franco said. Everybody else continued to hang out like normal. While the 15 of us from our little tour group all moved in unison … coming out from among them.
This right here is what it looks like to follow the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
This right here is what it looks like to be the church – the be “ekklesia.”
In thinking about the Arch of Titus and the Colosseum being built by Jewish slaves, who were enslaved and deported because they refused to worship the emperor as god … choosing rather to remain loyal to worship the one true God – Yahweh. These Jewish followers of God were “called out.” In unison, as one, they all heard the voice of God in the “earpiece” of their soul. And they obeyed.
There was great persecution of Christians during the reign of the Roman emperors. Thousands upon thousands of Christians were murdered and martyred because they refused to worship the emperor as god … choosing rather to remain loyal to worship the one true God – Yahweh.
They were “called out.” They were “ekklesia.” They had the “earpiece” of the Holy Spirit speaking to them in their soul. And in unison, as one, they all obeyed.
If we belong to Jesus Christ … we do not belong to the world. We no longer have the desires of the world. We are no longer interested in the things of the world. The Holy Spirit has given us new desires. The Holy Spirit has given us new interests. We are “called out.”
There are certain things in society which everyone else is doing … but those who are followers of Jesus Christ are hearing the direction of the Holy Spirit in the “earpiece” of their soul. They are “called out.” The Holy Spirit is instructing them to go a different way. To respond a different way. To live a different way.
And so, our little group of 15 followed our most excellent tour guide Franco across the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, underneath the blazing hot Roman sun.
And in the same way, those who are followers of Jesus Christ, follow our most excellent “tour guide” – the Holy Spirit – as he leads us across the uneven cobblestone pathway of life, underneath the blazing heat and pressures of each new day.
Are you “called out”?
Do you hear the “voice” of the Holy Spirit speaking to your soul?
If not, perhaps you might not be part of the “tour group.” Perhaps you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Or … perhaps you might have wandered off from your “tour guide.” Perhaps you are nowhere close to your “tour guide” and therefore your little “radio” can’t pick up the master signal.
Or … perhaps you might have taken the “earpiece” out of your ear. Hubby and I were guilty of this a time or two. We became engrossed in a conversation with our tour group friends and we took our earpiece out of our ear. All of a sudden, off goes Franco, with everyone else following him! And we didn’t hear a thing! If you aren’t hearing the “voice” of the Holy Spirit perhaps you might have stopped listening.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter what society has to say … it doesn’t really matter what politics has to say … it doesn’t really matter what social media has to say … it doesn’t really matter what our friends have to say.
The only thing that truly matters is what our “tour guide” the Holy Spirit is speaking to our soul.
