“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.”
Romans 8:29-30 (NLT)
When I was a child, I experienced a form of election that I would like to tell you about. I used to go to an organization for blind children, where some special activities took place. These included summer camp, Christmas shopping trips, and special adventures on Saturdays.
One day, I learned that I had been chosen to go to the White House. I was excited, but I didn’t realize what an honor this was at the time. While we were there, we sang songs from Fiddler On the Roof for President Nixon and the First Lady. We also received a keyring which had the presidential seal fastened to it.
“That’s nice,” you say, “but what does that have to do with what Paul is telling us here?”
Remember the parable that Jesus told about the man who invited his friends to a celebration? If not, allow me to remind you. His friends all made excuses when they received their invitations, and not one of them showed his face at the party.
Just like the people in this story, I could have refused to go to the White House, no matter how many times I was invited. Jesus pleaded with people to come to Him constantly, but though He shed many tears on their behalf, He did not force them to come.
It is the same way today. The love of God is continually calling to all of us from the pages of scripture. But just as we would when receiving any physical invitation, we must decide how we are going to answer that call.
But you insist, “It can’t be that simple.”
In another place, the Bible tells us that God chose us before the foundation of the world. While I can’t do this topic justice, please think about my White House story. I’m sure the people who planned that trip didn’t wait until a week before the event, and it is the same way with God.
Scripture tells us that God’s ways aren’t our ways, so I know that some things are beyond my understanding presently. But scripture also tells us that God is love, and because of this, I know I can trust Him.
When it comes to God’s ways, we are all blind. But you can take heart, for He is calling you into His marvelous light today.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened down, and I will give you rest.” It doesn’t matter who you are. You can know that you are chosen by the King, if you will just decide to follow Him. That is what I did, and when I confessed my sin and came to Him in simple humility, I went from White House memories to discovering the King’s majesty. I am glad to say that the same can be true for you, for God wants to walk with you. I pray that you will choose to walk with Him.
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Monday night Bible study or Tuesday night prayer meeting. Both are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 712-775-7031, and our ID is 607518748. We hope to talk with you soon!
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