Known and Chosen by God

We Are Called, Known, and Chosen 

Do you know the LORD?  What makes you sure that you know God?  Or better yet, that God knows you?  We want to illustrate how the LORD operates in regard to His sons & daughters being called, known and chosen by Him. 

If we are indeed blessed to be known by God, it is simply because we made a decision to get acquainted with Him first.  Romans 8:28-30 states the following: “And we know that all things work together for good to them who are called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” After reading this, you might just get up and leave the table upset, saying, “I give up, this game is fixed!” Sort of like an inside job NBA referee, Tim Donaghy.  But wait a minute, that doesn’t seem fair, and we know that the God of this Bible is just and righteous concerning all matters. 

It is the LORD’s desire that all should come to repentance, not willing that any should perish 2 Peter 3:9.  So we see that there are no shoo-ins in the kingdom of God, like one of Mayor Daley’s cronies at city hall, just ask Al Sanchez. He calls many, but the fact is some do not answer.  By what method does the LORD call us? 

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:20.  Jesus stands at the door of our mind and knocks.  “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation” Hebrews 3:15.  The LORD requires us to listen to Him.  If we seek to know God, through the pages of the Bible, He will indeed find us, and abode with us, if we keeps His words John 14:23. 

Paul tells us in 1 John 2:3-4, that in order for us to know God, we must keep His commandments.  “And he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” That’s pretty straightforward, right? 

So how do we know God?  We know God by keeping His commandments.  We must make the first move.  If we draw near unto the LORD with a pure heart, He will draw near unto us James 4:8.  Be clear when you’re ready to serve Him; don’t be double-minded and doubtful, looking back, as Luke 9:62 states. 

In 2 Chronicles 15:2, king Asa is told that there is a condition involved with the blessing of LORD being near to us and found of us; in that we mustn’t forsake Him, or He will in turn forsake us.   

It is important to remember that Jesus is LORD and God of all people, not just Israel.  In fact, He is sought of them that asked not for him; and found of them that sought him not.  He calls out to a nation that is not called by His name Isaiah 65:1.  Here, the LORD is referring to nations outside of Israel, namely the Gentiles Malachi 1:11.  They came looking for Him and found Him, because He makes himself available to all who seek Him in truth and sincerity.  

Jude verse 3 talks about the common salvation of man.  Jesus Christ is not anybody’s personal Savior!  And just as we freely choose to know God, we can also by that same freedom, choose not to know Him, thus disengaging ourselves from becoming chosen. 

Jesus says “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” Matthew 7:21.  So this statement clearly lets us know we need more than just lip service to enter His kingdom!  In the story Jesus tells of the king who prepared a wedding feast for his son, we are told that many are called, but few are chosen Matthew 22:2-14. 

This is a direct message in reference to the marriage of the Lamb written in Revelation 19:6-9.  How do we turn our invitation (being called), into a surety of our attendance (being chosen) to this wedding?  We do this by keeping the LORD’s commandments.  

Those who fear the LORD and speak often in His name will be remembered in the day that He will make up His jewels Malachi 3:16-17.  He will spare those whose names are written in the Book of Life. 

How important is it that we are found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?  “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” Revelation 3:5.  So we see that if we are called, known, and chosen of God, it is because we made a decision to know Him first.

Grace and Peace in the mighty name of Jesus

JB&HB

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