Chosen By God

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ to rescue you from the consequences of offending God, then this means that God has chosen you and called you to Himself.

After the Apostle Paul preached a sermon in Antioch, Acts 13:48 says: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

We were chosen long before we were ever born: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:4).

It is the Father’s pleasure to make you part of God’s family: “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Ephesians 1:5). Further, God is now transforming you! “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” (Romans 8:29a).

Yes, the Bible offers salvation to all: “…whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16b (Refer to my opening sentence). And Peter adds:  “The Lord is…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

Paul writes: “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus adds: “…And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Revelations 22:17).

But Jesus also said: “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). Theologians call this Irresistible Grace. Make no mistake about it—you cannot get there from here without the Father’s involvement! However, we also know that the general call of salvation goes out to everyone. When Jesus tells the story of inviting people to the heavenly banquet and some had better plans, the Scripture reads: “…Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame… Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that My house may be full” (Luke 14:21, 23). Jehovah speaks through Jeremiah and cries: “Oh earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord!” (Jeremiah 22:29).

Sadly, the sin of the human soul can suppress the glorious truth that God has presented to the world. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them” (Romans 1:18-19). Psalm 19:1 reads: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” God shouts His existence through His creation, therefore, people must choose to believe that the complex intelligent design of the universe had an unscientific, chaotic origin.

God, personifying wisdom, warns through Solomon: “Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention, and you neglected all my counsel… Then they will call upon Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they shall not find me, because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear (reverence) of the Lord” (Proverbs 1:25, 28-29).

The death of Christ on the cross is sufficient to save all people, but only efficient for those who bow their knees to the Savior! (See, again, John 3:16.)

You might say: “Wow, I was elected, appointed, called to be God’s child to inherit eternal life!” True indeed, and it is an immeasurable blessing. Just understand that the Lord did not choose you because you were better than, or more worthy than others. In fact, listen to what Paul said to the believers in Corinth: “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him” (I Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV).

You might say: “I am not a Christian. What about me? Am I not one of the chosen, the elect, the predestined? Am I left out? Rejected? Lost?” These are important questions. I have a question for you—do you want to turn your life over to Jesus Christ? Do you desire to have your sins forgiven, receive eternal life, and be part of God’s family? Listen again to God’s Word: “To all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Receiving Jesus Christ by faith is a decision you can make right now – it is your freewill choice.

I sincerely hope you will make that decision right now, because as Scripture warns: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).

John Wallace Miller