Isaiah
42:1
Do you remember when we were little? Gosh that was so long
ago. I remember in P.E. class; we would always play basketball or dodgeball.
Those were the days right there. I remember sometimes I would be upset because I
would not get picked to play. I mean the ones that did not get picked would get
split up onto teams anyways, so we all got to play. But that is not the point. It
is just the way that it felt not being picked. It does not feel good does it?
We do not ever have to feel that way. Isaiah 42:1 says, “I
have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” You have been
picked by the Creator of the Universe! The God that made the heavens and the
earth. Every star that you see in the beautiful sky. How does that make you
feel? We seem to always forget that. We should never be concerned if we get
picked for a game, or for a job, or for anything really!
This should be the highlight of our day – everyday! In our
toughest times and our strongest doubts, we should not fear because salvation
is assured. This crazy, radical, remarkable love that God shows us; we do not
deserve, but we have it! What are we doing with it? Some of us are ignoring it.
Some of us will never know it.
When I was saved, I was not seeking God to be saved – He called
me. It happened totally unexpected. I am not saying that it happens this way
for everyone. That is how it happened for me, and I have saw many accounts
through the Bible where it has happened in that same way. When Jesus called the
Apostles, He said, “Come, follow me.” They did not run to Him and ask to
receive that position! If you are seeking God, He will not turn you away, but
if you are seeking Him through works and works only – you will never find Him. It
is by faith and faith alone!
There are a couple different views on this topic of “election”
mentioned in this verse here. John Calvin believed that God has chosen to save
an unknown number of specific individuals from the deserved consequences of all
humanity’s sin – a choice based solely on God’s undeserved mercy.
Others like Wesley believed that God desires to give all
people equally the ability to receive His offer of salvation. I believe both
these views. I will tell you why. Sin separates us from God and the further we
grow in sin and the harder our heart becomes – the harder it is to make our way
to God. And when we do – it is all His doing, and by His power, grace, and
mercy! It happened that way for me. I had gone two weeks without a drink and
had not even realized that I had quit drinking. No joke! This was back in 2011
or 2012.
Something happened in my life that drove me away from God
and back into my sinful lifestyle. I was so far lost in my sin that I denied
God and continued to choose my sinful lifestyle over Him. I was a Youth
Minister and an Encourager Coach at Celebrate Recovery. I was doing God’s work and
was loving every minute of it. Sin will overtake you faster than you will ever
realize that it has. It feels as if swimming in the river and all the sudden
before you realize, the current drags you under. It happens that quick –
believe me!
God knows us and He knows that some of us will never return
from our life of sin! So, if that is the case, then Wesley could be correct
with his view. Does God want to just leave you buried within the sin that has
overtaken your life? Of course not! But He gives us all the choice – the choice
to choose. It is a choice. I chose sin over God for a long time. I felt Him
sometimes. I heard Him sometimes – but I ignored Him.
I do believe that God has
called us, but I believe that it is totally up to us whether we answer that
call or not. So, with that being said, I believe salvation is available to “everyone”
that believes by faith to answer that call. Have you answered, or is the phone
still ringing?
Be Encouraged, Chris
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