The Chosen Few

Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for His son, And sent forth His servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, He sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, He was wroth: and He sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith He to His servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And He saith unto Him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

Ever hear of the process where people “cast” a movie? Movie casting often uses a more direct approach, in that the people acting as key-role characters are often already “in the business”, having performed and/or acted in the industry already. In many cases, these people are already proven to have a zeal and talent in this industry.

One way that movies are casted is that the director and other stakeholders in the production of the upcoming film advertise, in an area or space that they believe will reach the largest amount of people who might be interested in performing a role in their film. Through this advertisement, they “invite” or “bid” those who have an interest to come and “try out” for the parts that they need to fill. Once they find people that they believe to “fit the part” of each role, they make them an offer to become part of the movie. To simplify this: each actor/actress then either accepts or rejects this offer.

Many people were “bidden” to be in this movie, but what set apart the many who showed up for audition from those who were actually chosen to perform? Talent? Perhaps. Reputation? Sometimes. What about zeal? People who are passionate and show great zeal to do something, often persevere and therefore succeed, right? Every actor/actress starts somewhere.

They often call this their “big break” because, even though they seemed to have no experience, and maybe even performed awkwardly, etc., they “had heart” in their performance; to do well. Someone like the director saw this passion in them to become a great film star. They could see that this person would do absolutely anything, even give up anything to be successful.

To liken this to the parable of Jesus that we quoted, these people were “bidden” to the audition. In some cases, it may be that an RVSP invitation was made to people for the audition. People who have a reputation in the industry. Some came to try out, but others may have said, “I’ve heard of this director, and I do not want any part with any production that they might be working on.” What happens when only some of these people show up to try out for parts but they are not all filled?

Then the casting crew are forced to place broader-based ads. They might even take to the streets and actively recruit in order to fill up the cast for their production. In this case, anyone will do; that is anyone who “has a heart” to perform with the passion and diligence required to be successful.

How do I get the part?

There is great controversary among people who are called Christians as to what “chosen” really means in this context. Some believe that all people are saved and therefore: all must be “chosen”? Others think that “chosen” means that certain people are “pre-destined” to be children of God, and others are not. In this case, there would be no reason for some to even try to serve God? As in all other things… the Truth can be found within God’s Holy Word. However, for every Truth, there are multiple replicas – lies authored by the great liar and deceiver of nations himself!

It is clear that God calls us to repentance, but He does want us to have and make the choice of whether or not to serve Him.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of The Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of The Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve The Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord.

So, the choice is ours to make; whether or not we want to believe and follow Christ, or to run the other way. How did we get this choice, or how was it made possible for us to choose?

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Mark 8:34-35 And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Now, the scripture says that “many are called, but few are chosen”. So, He calls us to repentance. If an when we answer, does that choice we make symbolize or fulfill the “chosen” part? Nope.

Jesus speaking: John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.

What? The Lord does the calling, and the choosing? Yep. Is this where people mistakenly get the idea that we we are predestined to either serve Him, or not to serve Him? Probably so. But remember, that God knows all things. Amen? He knows what we will choose before we choose. Remember the conversation that the prophet Jeremiah had with God?

Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the Word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Predestinated? What? Yes, it was predestined that Christ should come, die on the cross, and redeem His people from sin! If we find grace in His sight, then we have become part of this glorious redemption!

Just remember this though. He chooses us based upon the choices of our heart. How many have a spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend? Well, then you are in a relationship, aren’t you? At first there must have been an attraction. The person first attracted probably ‘made a move’ to invite you into their world. Once you accepted and got to know them, did they choose you, or did they choose you? Good question, huh?

Here’s the thing with God’s choices though:

Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

We all come the same way. If one person is chosen by Him because of their love for God, another will be chosen with the same exact criteria that the first person had met. No one person is preferred before another. Just like, no person is beneath or more than another in respect to being guilty of sin…

James 2:10-11 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

Luke 13:4-5 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Yes, God already knows all things, even before they happen.

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Proverbs 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Knowing these things, it is easy to see how some (who may not have searched the scriptures diligently, as His Word tells us to do), might think that God is not just; being ignorant of His will and mercy towards mankind:

Romans 9:14-20 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

God is definitely not unjust.

He gives us the opportunity to obtain the power to become His children. When He sees this unwavering desire in us for Truth, no matter what the sacrifice, He has mercy on us and chooses for us to have this power. He, of course, knows who He can trust with Truth, and whom He cannot. He always makes the perfect choice, one way or the other.

John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear The Lord, and depart from evil.

Again – God already knows what we will choose, and therefore whom He has chosen. If we are not predestined, and, in other words, really do have the ability to change what it might appear that our destiny is from birth into this world, why are we here? Justice. We have to actually make our choice. How do we make that choice – it is another component of why we are here: “actions speak louder than words”.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Ephesians 5:8-10 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in The Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto The Lord.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

The Jews had a reputation of being God’s “chosen” people. So, they were “bidden” to the wedding supper of The Lamb. When many of them despised the thought of taking Christ’s hand in marriage and allowing Him to be The Head of their household, God turned to the rest of the world. He sent His messengers to preach an invitation of Good Tidings to those who had no career in keeping the Word of God.

In the end, both through the invitation to His People, and the open invitation to whomever would listen and show interest, God auditions many, trying their hearts for a sincere passion to serve Him. Those whom He finds this passion in, He chooses to play the part of a Son or Daughter In Christ. However, its not those that merely “say” that they believe and want to serve Jesus that are chosen to actually do so, but those that are willing to forget everything that they know, and submit to His every Word.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If you come to The Lord’s wedding without a wedding garment…

Matthew 22:11-12 And when the king came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And He saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Revelation 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto Him, Sir, thou knowest. And He said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

rob@INTRUTH.site

Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love Our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

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