Good morning, Zane.
I kinda feel like I’m going in circles…which doesn’t really have much aerobic exercise value. I wasn’t able to include my actual normal aerobic exercise into this morning’s routine. The dogs are disappointed. But they’ll get over it. Maybe tomorrow.
Hope your day is on a good course so far. Blessings. Love and prayers—Tua/Ray.
This theological topic of ELECTION can present some major difficulties, and some seem to struggle over it to the point of stumbling—even falling. However we choose to slice it, I cannot accept that God arbitrarily selects (predestines) some to be saved and some to be lost—some for eternal life and some for destruction—as though He were flipping a coin over every individual—“Heads, you’re saved. Tails, you’re lost.”
As I sort through the data and information we have before us, the matter of being called is huge. But it doesn’t need to be complicated. The call is general and universal (Romans 1:18-20). We can say that ALL ARE CALLED. The Kingdom of God is a standing invitation. But being called is certainly not to be equated with a correct or desired response to that call since we’re dealing with man’s free will. If I’m called to supper, but don’t respond, I don’t eat. Duh. And if I call my dog when he is all preoccupied with his dog stuff of sniffing out a ground squirrel under a pile of lumber, he simply will not come. Duh. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14, KJV). Why? Because only a few are willing to choose His choice—with a will to make their own pursuits subservient to His will.
Over and over the Bible confirms that God wants to have mercy toward those who respond positively to His love call. They are those who will repent and believe in His Son, Jesus, as their personal Savior and Lord. And He wants to confirm the value of this amazing LOVE GIFT by allowing quite the opposite on behalf of those who respond opposite. It’s like there is an automatic hardening effect on the part of those who persistently refuse to repent, those who choose their SINFUL NATURE over His provision and opportunity to “participate in the DIVINE NATURE” (2 Peter 1:4).
May I also recommend that you review Romans 2:4-11. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”