Only a Few Picked

John 6:44

44. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 15:16

16. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Salvation, a right relationship with God, the Author of all reality, is a gift, given by Him, to who He wants, when He wants. It is not something we earn, figure out, or deserve in anyway.

Yes, from our perspective, we choose to follow Jesus. This "choice" only happens because we were given THE gift. The choice, is the natural result of us being given that faith to believe. That touch from God sparks in our heart the faith that will grow for all eternity, just like a sperm cell sparks life in an egg cell.

John 3:5-8

5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

6. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.'

8. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

This faith, this measure of God's Holy Spirit, creates life where there was none. It makes the dead, alive. It makes the blind, see.

As Jesus says to Nicodemus, we are temporary before we are born again, born of the Spirit. Dead, like zombies walking through this life.

Yes, God is picking who gets saved and who does not, and it has nothing to do with our behavior, looks, wealth, attitude, or family history. He picks who He wants...when He wants.

"So, how can you know if you are saved? How can you know who else is saved?"

The past sins are irrelevant, actually, so are the present sins. What shows a change, is interest.

Look at the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-39. The Talents do not represent "abilities" as most suppose. That becomes obvious when you consider what the master says to the third servant.

Matthew 25:27

27. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

What "ability" can you give to another to make it grow while you do nothing?

Consider what God does give everyone who believes...Faith. For any believer, "the least you can do" is to attend a church. In a church, a man with a tiny amount of faith can do nothing, but loan that tiny faith to a teacher, and receive it back with a little more..."interest". It does grow, but this, as the parable teaches, is the bottom...the least you could do.

If the interest, the faith in God, is greater, the natural reaction is for that person to go out and work that faith to make it grow. This would include scriptural study, biblical discussions, prayer, works of service to see God move, and every effort to connect with Jesus Christ on a deeper level.

This IS investing in treasure that lasts forever. It only happens to the degree of interest, of Faith, that each person is given.

Please note, that the Faith is meant to grow. If our works, our effort, in any way become something we can boast about, then they will stifle the faith completely. Faith in God, will not grow if we elevate ourselves!

Ah, but even those going to church are not necessarily growing in faith. As Jesus said there are "weeds" surrounding the "wheat". He also calls them "Goats". Weeds and Goats will cause difficulty to those who are Sheep, or Wheat. They will choke them out. They will diminish them in the hearts and minds of others, all to raise themselves up. This is what weeds and Goats do!

They will ignore, despise and gossip about them. They will have no interest is building a relationship with them, no diner invites, hospital visits, and no desire to engage them beyond a Sunday morning plastic "hello how are you".

Goat: "We should do coffee!"

Sheep: "Sure! I am free on Friday."

Goat: "Oh...I'll call you..."

(Goat walks away without asking for the phone number)

I have seen this, many times! I'm sorry, but Jesus finds this absolutely disgusting!!

Matthew 7:12-14

12. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

13. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

There are few who are truly chosen.

Few.

If you are one who was picked, it will show by your interest level...and how you treat others.

If your "interest" seems high, but you are hurting other "believers" in any way, by machinations, gossip, exclusion, or meanness, you are not picked. You are still lost, still dead, and not born again.

It doesn't matter how much you have prayed, fasted, healed the sick, or even if you have raised the dead. Jesus won't know you, because you still do not have a real relationship with Him.

Sorry, but you don't.

John 3:27

27. To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

Salvation is a gift, given to those God has picked. If you are His, you will follow His voice.

His voice still says to seek Him first, and to love others second.

He doesn't change.