Week 24: Election and predestination

• Key verses: Matthew 22:14; Joshua 24:14-15
• I don’t understand and I’m okay with it
• Joshua’s challenge
• Parting thoughts

Key verses

Matthew 22:14 (NLT)

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT)

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

I don’t understand and I’m okay with that

The topic of predestination is hard. It is often juxtaposed with the free will of man. So, does God choose or do we choose?  Calvinism or Arminianism? Many great theologians have wrestled with this topic.

I’m not a great theologian. After attending two very different Bible colleges who leaned different ways on the topic, I came to the following conclusion, both are true. God has given us the ability to choose. He exists outside of time. He chooses us. All this is in the Bible, and I believe it is true.

Some will point out that this is a contradiction in the Bible. I don’t think it is. I think it is God showing us truth at the edge of our comprehension. It is liberating. I choose God and he chooses me. If I understand everything about God, is there any need for faith? I will trust him with the details. He is God, I am not.

Joshua’s challenge

As the Israelites were settling the promised land, Joshua presented them with the challenge above. That challenge still applies today. I will attempt to modernize it for Jesus followers.

Fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the sins, habits, and activities of your past. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the life you had before Jesus? Or will it be the lifestyle of world around you? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

This brings to mind two additional verses from the New Testament.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 

Revelations 3:15-16 (NLT)

Who will you choose today? It is our choice. I am continually confronted with anger and depression in the ALS community. Many people are angry at God. Others discount my faith as stupid, ignorant or frivolous. Still others live with no hope at all. This is my world, the world of ALS.

In the midst of this world and the horrible reality of this disease, I and many others choose God. We live with hope and purpose. We live with the pain, loss, and complications of life with ALS. However, we choose joy, hope, life, and Jesus. God will take me to heaven when he is ready. I don’t know what his plans are, but I choose to trust him. I choose joy, hope, life, and Jesus.

Parting thoughts

No matter our circumstances in life, we have a choice. This song from Brandon Lake came up during the time I was writing this, so I thought I would include it here.