Predestined

We know that all things work for the good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified and those he justified he also glorified.
– Romans 8:28-30

The Old Testament prophets, especially Jeremiah and Isaiah, speak to the omnipotence of God. There is nothing God cannot accomplish. In the opening verses, Jeremiah writes that God knew him and called him to be a prophet before he was even born. Isaiah speaks to the strength and knowledge of the Lord. We were all formed by the work of God’s hands. He already knows everything we’re going to experience.

God has a plan for each and every one of us. Some would ask, then why is there pain and evil in the world? We humans can never fully understand the ways of God. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). God gave us all freewill; the freedom to make our own choices and decisions for our own life. With our freewill, we can choose to heed God’s call or walk away as Jesus explained in Matthew 22:14; that not all of those called will be chosen. They will refuse to listen to God.

But those who are obedient to God’s calling are blessed and will be received in heaven. Paul tells us that believers will be justified. There was only one way in which sin could be forgotten – by a blood sacrifice. Peopled sacrificed lambs, goats, pigeons, whatever animal was unblemished. However, these animal sacrifices could never completely resolve humans of their sins. Jesus was the last and complete sacrifice. Through His blood we have indeed been justified, it’s not through any action of ours.

To be glorified is to share in the glory of God. Once we die and are raised by Jesus, we will receive our glorified body. John saw Jesus’ glorified body in the book of Revelation 1:13-16. We too are promised to receive such a glorified body, as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

From the beginning, God bestowed on mankind the freedom of making their choices. God loves us all and would want nothing more than all to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Sadly, that will not be the case. There will be those who refuse to listen to God’s calling. The Lord already knows who is truly His, not necessarily through predestination, but because that person made a decision to follow Jesus. When God calls, don’t let it go to voicemail. Love the Lord, follow Him, and you will be blessed in the life to come.