THE CHOICE BY THE GRACE OF GOD (Ephesians 1: 4-6)
Lay Pastor Markus Budi Rahardjo
Lemah Putro, Sunday, February 11, 2018
Shalom,
Do you believe that we have to make a choice every time? In our daily activities, from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed at night, we have a choice to make such as what to eat, which clothes to wear, how to get to work on time; confused housewives have no idea what to cook for today’s menu and many others related to household matters. When it comes to serious plans like getting married, we need to make a wiser and more complicated decision in choosing a spouse who meets the criteria (personality, family tree and social status – financially reliable). Professionalism requires that employee recruitment must fit the conditions, like age, competence, experience, etc. The more important the position applied for, the more requirements to meet. For example, the election of a head of state follows a long election procedure.
The Bible includes an example of a leadership selection. When God rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience, Samuel was ordered to anoint the future king of Israel as Saul’s successor. By reason of offering sacrifices to the Lord, Samuel went to Betlehem and invited Jesse with his sons to the ritual sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw the tall Eliab and thought that he would be the chosen man, but the Lord said: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Neither did God choose Abinadab and Shammah. All Jesse’s seven sons had passed before Samuel, but none of them was chosen by the Lord. In the end, Jesse called his youngest son, David, who was shepherding the flock. He was ruddy with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” (1 Samuel 16: 6-12).
The selection of David was not based on his outward appearance like what happened to his older brothers. He was just a simple shepherd but the Lord searched and examined his heart. The Apostle Paul once said, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
What does the Word of God say about our selection? Ephesians 1:4 wrote, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”
It is clearly mentioned that our election was not done by anyone but God in Christ Jesus. He even determined when the selection took place, namely, before the creation of the world. It is God’s prerogative to determine the time for someone because He has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11a). In other words, man proposes but God disposes.
Our selection is a matter of God’s authority, not our criteria (handsome, strong, skillful, clever, rich, etc.) that the selector could take advantage of, but God’s choice actually benefits us – the ones He selected.
How did God choose us? Ephesians 1: 5-6 write, “He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” So, it is crystal clear that God chose us in accordance with His grace.
According to the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language, the word “grace” means grace, a free, unconditional gift, a present, God’s kindness and generosity.
The Greek word for “grace” is charis, meaning favour or blessing. Grace is totally God’s work without any human intervention. Remember that because of grace, we were saved through faith instead of our efforts. It was merely God’s gift (Ephesians 2: 8).
Some reasons why God chose us:
The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish but to turn back and repent (2 Peter 3: 9b).
God is consistent with His choise. Eventhough man had fallen into sin and been far from God, He had the initiative to bring him back to Him. And He did it through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son as written in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus has offered the eternal salvation through His death on the cross as a sacrifice. Therefore, never reject His offer, or it will be fatal and we will perish forever.
The Lord wants to dwell among men forever (1 Thessalonians 4: 17).
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Please take note that this world is passing away with its all desires, but those who do the will of God live forever (1 John 2: 17). As the Word of God is eternal, so will those who live out the Word of God remain eternal.
The Lord wants His chosen people to glorify Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.”
Often we do not realize that this life belongs to God and we benefit it for our own self-interests. We put God on the second. We do not dedicate our whole lives, just the remaining parts. We even give offering the way we like it.
If we realize that God chose us just because of His grace instead of our own criteria, we should give our thanks to Him, appreciate His choice, present our lives to honor His name and always stay ready to serve Him. Amen.