"Did you notice that you are only going to select five? These are just like my people, I have invited them all, but I have only selected a few."
Brothers and Sisters, I immediately, pulled my arm back and looked at those apples with a holy fear. At first, they had all looked the same to me, but after this, I took my time and examined each one carefully. And as I examined them, on some of them, I could see spots and blemishes, these I placed back. And after selecting the five that I wanted, I placed them in my bag, and with reverence, I continued my shopping.
"For many are called, but few are chosen". MATTHEW 22:14
Brothers and Sisters, my heart is grieved for the church. For He has indeed invited us all, but only those He selects will live with Him forever. The word of God is very clear. And since we believe God's word, it is important that we understand this scripture. The word translated called literally means invited, the inference is by invitation. The word translated chosen literally means selected, and by inference, picked from among many.
You see God has indeed invited us all through Jesus to share in His kingdom, but He has only selected a few. Listen to Paul and Peter:
"...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him..." EPH. 1:4AND..."I pray that the eyes of your heart (spirit) may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling..." EPH 1:18
AND..."Therefore brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;" II PET 1:10.
Have you been selected? God only knows. And no matter what stage of your spiritual development, or who you may think you are, you must press on to make your invitation sure. Just as Peter said; "...be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you." And how do we do this? By living a holy life, and that by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now one might say, "Has not God predestined us to be conformed to His image and to become His sons and daughters forever?" Yes, God by His foreknowledge, knows who will overcome and who will walk with Him in white. And thus He predestined those He selected for this honor. But God only knows. Therefore be diligent and (you) make certain His calling and choosing you. Brothers and Sisters, this is a fact, there are many born again Christians in the body of Christ who will never see heaven. I know that this is a startling statement, but it is true. You say, "How can this be, I thought once you were saved, you were always saved?" Well, let me ask you, is this what scripture teaches, or is this a precept of men? We would do well to consider the words of Jesus. He said:
"I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." JOHN 15:5,6.
Was Jesus talking about the world (the devils children)? May it never be! No, He was talking about you... and me. He was talking to and about His disciples, those who would follow Him. Listen to me. Only the righteous will inherit eternal life. And I warn you, just as Jesus forewarned you, that many will stand before Him in that day and call Him Lord, Lord, but to "many" He will say, I never knew you, ..."DEPART FROM ME..." MATTHEW 7:21-23.
Read these verses and see for yourself. Jesus wasn't talking about unbelievers was he? No beloved, they had to be believers. For no one could do the works that they did without first becoming a believer. For they had prophesied; they had cast out demons; and they had performed many miracles. Can Satan cast out Satan? No, demons are cast out by the Spirit of God. You see, these are signs of the spiritually mature, let alone unbelievers! MARK 16:17,18. These had been endued with power from on high; they were well versed in the kingdom of God. These like the Christians in the letter to the Hebrews had:
"...tasted of the heavenly gift..." and had been "...made partakers of the Holy Spirit..." and had "...tasted... the powers of the age to come." HEBREWS 6:4,5.
The gifts of the Spirit were operating in their lives.
They were: "...mature, who because of practice..." had "...their senses (senses of their spirit) trained to discern good and evil". HEBREWS 5:14.
They had long since made Jesus their Saviour, and now were calling Him Lord. I'll offer you further proof? Listen to Jude:
"But you beloved, building yourselves upon you most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh." JUDE 1:20-23.
Now who was Jude writing to? He wasn't writing to unbelievers was He? He said; "But you beloved... keep yourselves in the love of God..." No beloved!, these were most definitely children of God, born again, and Spirit filled! Jude was writing to fellow believers and he was exhorting them to build themselves up in their most holy faith. How? By praying in the Holy Spirit. These Christians had tasted of the heavenly gift (JESUS). They had been made partakers of the Holy Spirit! But some of them were doubting, (not walking in faith). Others were in the fire (in Satans' grasp) being polluted by their flesh (not walking in the Spirit).
Now there is much more that can be said on this issue, but suffice it to say, that even a mature Christian can be spotted and blemished. So instead of boasting in our confidence, we ought to live our lives in reverence toward God, and practice His holiness. For Jesus Christ is coming back for a bride without spot and blemish.
