Our Choices:
Every day, our lives present us with hundreds of choices to make. "Does this tie match this shirt?" "How am I going to approach my boss about that sales opportunity that didn't pan out?" "If I go just 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, I can beat the lights, the morning train, and be on time for once." "I know my parents don't like my boyfriend, but he's really cute, and besides, he promised he loved me."
Choices come in all sizes. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God; the result of their decision is seen in the sin that is destroying our present world. Stephen, the first martyr for Jesus, chose to speak what the Holy Spirit told him; his choice cost him his earthly life. Obviously, our choices impact not just us, but many who exist around us. We can never be completely certain of the rippling results of our choices.God's Choice:
In John 15:16, Jesus told His disciples that they were "sitting ducks" for His "choice" in their lives; "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last." Again, in verse 19, Jesus says, "As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."Paul speaks in similar terms when addressing the Christian church in Rome; "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son . . . and those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified," Romans 8:29-30. You see, God foreknew, He has chosen!Even Peter shows us that we have been chosen by the foreknowledge of God. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect . . . who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood," 1 Peter 1:1-2. As Christians, we are God's elect! We were chosen to be obedient to Jesus!Finally, Paul wonderfully affirms that we were chosen by our heavenly Father as adopted children. "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ . . . in Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will," Ephesians 1:4-5, 11.Predestined:
Predestination, with the implication that our path has been chosen beforehand without any input on our part, is a very disturbing concept for many. It is only disturbing however, because we fail to completely understand one vital truth. Predestination does not interfere with, or make inconsequential our freedom to choose. Further, it catagorically does not absolve us of the responsibility of our choices. Our choices do decide our future. Our almighty Father may know what choices we will make in advance of our making them, but He will never override our free will to make those choices. He wants loving, obedient children, not pre-programmed robots.Does the "choice" of God -- predestination, indicate that God has already picked out those He wishes to receive salvation and those He wishes to be eternally condemned? NO! Peter explains why. "He (God) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:9. It is clear then, that the will of God is for all to believe in Jesus as their Savior and live. It is also clear that many choose not to do so and die apart from Jesus, completely apart from the will of God. He let's us choose. It's our responsibility.It is comforting to know that we are chosen by God (with our free will intact) to be a "chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light," 1 Peter 2:9.Does it seem a bit overwhelming, all this choosing and foreknowing and predestining? If it does, take comfort in this; Jesus Himself was also 'chosen' to fulfill a task. "He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake," 1 Peter 1:20. Ephesians 1:4 also tells us that, "He (God) chose us in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world (emphasis mine).Choose Love:
If Jesus was honored to be chosen in such a manner, shouldn't we be as well? Do you have doubts about your worth in the eyes of God? Do you ever feel as though your faith is of little value? If so, contemplate this; you were specifically known by God, chosen as His child, chosen to be an heir to the King. You were chosen to be the younger brother or sister of our first born big brother, Jesus! God chose you because He saw that you would love, acknowledge, honor, follow and revere His beloved only Son. And that by virtue of your love for Jesus, you would also love Jesus' Father as well. God "saw" that in you before you "were", and it caused Him to love you more than we can comprehend or describe in our physically limited bodies. He knew you would choose His Son, and He loved you for it.Our goal in all of life should simply be to choose as we know our heavenly Father and His Son would choose.
Choosing
The Goodsoil Discipleship Ministry
By Bro. Andy Madonio
April 28, 1997
Introduction:
This discipletter touches on predestination, but please, don't get too hung up on that topic. Major on the majors, not the minors. If God truly does not desire that any of us should perish (2 Peter 3:9), then why would He 'choose' some to live and some to die? The truth is He wouldn't. Peter tells us that "everyone" is invited, as does Luke 14:15-24.
We, as disciples, must weigh scripture against itself. We must look at it in the light of it's immediate context, as well as in the context of the Bible as a whole.Get it straight now. If you are reading this, then you are chosen. Rejoice in that and get busy knowing Jesus.