The Bible calls those chosen of God by the term “Elect.” These are those who were determined beforehand or ahead of time to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. They are the “elect” or predestined ones. Now there is much controversy over this doctrine of election and what it means. How does God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill function together? No human being has the answer to that question.
1 Peter 1:2 states:
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 1:4-6 also states:
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Matthew 24:24 tells us:
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Wouldn’t you think that those who are the “elect” would be so thankful for the mercy, forgiveness, and love of God that they would want to live holy lives as instructed in Scripture? Yet, during this election (where we elect a president) the “elect” of God are demonstrating behavior that is not becoming of our Savior that bestowed this glorious privilege upon us. Shame on us.
As one of the “elect,” does your conduct, conversation, and character reflect your Savior during this election season? Let’s look at Isaiah, Chapter 55:6-11 for a moment. William and I were reading it during our devotional time this week and I want to share a tiny portion of what our Lord says to us.
Isaiah 55:6-11 records:
Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
This seems erroneous because Romans 3:11 says, “there is none who seeks after God.” The doctrine of election is seen here again. First, God elects and calls a person unto Himself. We see a warning is given here for the person to respond to the Lord’s calling once he or she is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit to do so (see John 6:44). He or she exercises their freewill to ask, inquire, or call upon Him while He is near. This seeking normally results in their accepting His call and His salvation. In having freedom to exercise their freewill though, they are basically being warned “Do not miss this opportunity!”
If you are now a child of God, you responded to His call. Your behavior during this election should prove that you are indeed one of the elect. Your attitude should be one of gratitude and not taking for granted this privilege bestowed upon you by God.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
If the wicked or unrighteous person is to forsake their evil ways and return to the Lord in repentance that they may find mercy, how are the elect of God to behave? And if the unrighteous are to forsake their thoughts so God will abundantly pardon, again how much more the elect or those deemed righteous in His sight. Should the righteous elect behave or think as the unrighteous during this election? For God’s thoughts and ways are far beyond our understanding or perception. We cannot begin to comprehend His sovereign plans (read Deuteronomy 29:29). Therefore, let us put aside any pride and humbly repent and receive mercy for any wicked thoughts or ways in which we have misbehaved or misrepresented our Lord.
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Is God too weak to perform His Word or execute His divine plan? Then why do we as the elect get into fights and arguments as if God needs our anger/wrath to defend His Word or plans? God’s inspired Word that comes from His mouth is powerful and will accomplish His purposes. Nothing or no one can stop it. As rain and snow fall upon the earth and produce natural life. So does God’s Word fall upon mankind and produce spiritual life. As God’s elect, let us keep our focus on our Sovereign Lord and Savior and not the things of this world. The world is going to pass away, but the Word or purposes of our King never will (see Matthew 24:35).
May we repent and forsake sin, seek God’s will in all things, and obey His Word because man’s ways and thoughts are not God’s ways and thoughts. The sovereign purposes of God will not be defeated or squashed by man. As the “elect” during this election, let us act as though we know this to be true.
Paula is compassionately committed to biblically teach and mentor women who desire to be renewed in their minds by God’s eternal Word so their destinies will become a reality. She goes beyond sharing biblical principles to practical application for everyday living.
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