Doing "Your Part"

Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-- in order that God's purpose in election might stand: Romans 9:11, NIV

My good friend Joy believed that getting saved was a two part operation. God did his part, and we did ours. It was a team effort all the way. Lost people were the result of saying "no" to God, and therefore not being born again.

The billions of people who never heard of Jesus were not a part of this plan, but it did mean that a lot of people went to hell that God wanted to give a chance to. This terrible flaw in God's plan could only be corrected by more missionaries. Some people felt that unless a person had a chance to say yes or no, they might be excused for not having been given a choice, but that hasn't been established.

I am so glad that God uses down to earth physical examples to show that election is his work, not hours. Tares don't want to be tares, and wheat does not choose to be wheat. Paul's example of the potter making two kinds of vessels from the same lump of clay, says it so well. The potter, not the pot makes the decision.

It is so sad that people hate the doctrine of predestination, which is illustrated throughout the Bible. Starting in Genesis, He uses the example of babies, often twins, having different futures. "But he looks ahead and foresees the choices they will make." This is said by those who have no scriptural support at all.

Paul says just the opposite. "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy." (Romans 9:16, NIV).

I thank you Father that you chose me, before I was born, and did not leave it up to me.