Why Did God Choose Me?

H. G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher said, at the age of 61:

“I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether.”

The poet Byron said,

“My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone.”

The literary genius Henry Thoreau said,

“Most men live lives of quiet desperation.”

Ralph Barton, one of the world’s top cartoonists, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life:

“I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day.”

So many people today, like these examples, are unsure why they are here.  This problem is now encroaching into those who would call themselves Christians, in spite of the Bible’s clear answers.

In the Old Testament the prophets recognised that they had been chosen by God for a purpose.

Isaiah

When Isaiah was first called by God he felt utterly unworthy.  He saw all the sin in his past too clearly to think that he could be any use to God.  However one day he had a vision of Almighty God, seated on his throne in heaven.  Everyone was praising God and Isaiah was overawed.  He felt totally inadequate as he looked at his sin.

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips . . . ”  Isaiah 6:4

But then something wonderful happened to Isaiah.  In Jewish thinking, the altar, where sacrifices were offered, was the place where God forgave his people their sin.  In his vision he saw forgiveness being given to him personally.

“The one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:6-7

But this was just the beginning.  Isaiah was to learn that God calls each of his people for a purpose.

“Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I send me!”  He said ‘Go and tell this people . . ’” Isaiah 6:8-9

Isaiah understood that he was not the only one to be chosen with a purpose – it applied to all God’s chosen people both in Old Testament times as well as today.

“But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham, my friend . . . I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you . . . I will strengthen you and help you.” Isaiah 41:8-10

All God’s people need this special help and protection because we are commissioned to be the Lord’s representatives amongst a ‘people of unclean lips’ who will certainly not like what we have to say.

Christians are God’s chosen people too, because we share the faith of Abraham.  Paul made it abundantly clear, in his letter to the churches in Galatia, that all of us who have put our faith in Jesus are children of Abraham,

“Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.’  Understand then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.  The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith. . .” Galatians 3:6-8

This realisation that he had been called to tell people the Lord’s message remained clear to Isaiah throughout his life.  Later he wrote,

“Before I was born the LORD called me; . . . He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.” Isaiah 49:1

Jeremiah

Jeremiah was informed that God had chosen him, even before he had been conceived, for a purpose.

“The Word of the LORD came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5

Jeremiah also felt totally inadequate for this task, he was both too young and not a good speaker,

“‘Ah, Sovereign LORD,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’  But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 1:6-8

Other prophets

The repeated theme throughout the whole Old Testament is that men spoke the words that God have given them.  Thus Joel starts,

“The word of the LORD that came to Joel . . .” Joel 1:1

Joels’ message from God was that he wanted people’s hearts and not their outward religion,

“‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.  Rend you heart and not your garments.  Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate. . .’” Joel 2:12-13

Joel then gives us a remarkable prophecy.  He said that a time was coming when God would call all his people to be his prophets. Both men and women, old and young, would all proclaim him as their Lord.  ‘Prophecy’ is another word for ‘proclamation’ or ‘preaching’.

“And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy . . .” Joel 2:28

Peter, in his sermon preached at Pentecost, straight after the Holy Spirit descended on all Christ’s people in a dramatic way, quoted from this passage in Joel, explaining that it was now being fulfilled.  God had not only chosen a new people for himself but was empowering them to go out and speak for him – their tongues would be on fire with the gospel about Jesus, God’s true Son.

This has always been a major reason why God chose a people for himself.  When God first called Abraham it was with the intention his people would help all nations to be blessed by God.

“The LORD said to Abraham, ‘Leave your country, your people and you father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation and I will bless you, . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” Genesis 12:1-3

Jesus

Jesus continued to teach that his followers had been chosen by God and chosen for a purpose.  He said,

“You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” John 15:16

There is no doubt what he means by ‘fruit’.  They were to go into the world and tell people the good news about himself. This would result in facing opposition, hatred and persecution.

“If the world hates you, bear in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is you do not belong to the world.” John 15:18-19

To ‘bear fruit’ God’s people will need both help and determination, so Jesus adds,

“When the counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27

Matthew also records that we have all been chosen by God for the purpose of sharing the news about Jesus.

“No-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.    Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke on you . . .” Matthew 11:27-29

The reason God calls people is not to a life of ease, he has chosen us to work for him.  Just as a junior ox would be yoked to a senior ox, to plough the fields, so all Christians are bound to Christ to help us in this work.  God gives great peace to active members of his kingdom but certainly not an easy life.  We are chosen for a purpose.

Paul

Corinthians

Paul repeatedly stresses that all Christians have been chosen by God and that there is a purpose behind this.

“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, He chose the lowly things and the despised . . .” 1 Corinthians 1:26

Paul then continues to explain the impact this understanding had on him,

“When I came to you brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1

Galatians

In his letter to the Galatians Paul links his call, which he sees as coming from God since his birth, with a purpose,

“But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him amongst the Gentiles. . .” Galatians 1:15-16

In this understanding he reflects that of Jeremiah, who also realized that God choses people, even before they are born, for his purposes.

Ephesians

At the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul stresses that all Christians have been chosen by God, chosen before the world began, to be his representatives.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world . . .” Ephesians 1:4

Again this choice is associated with a purpose,

“ . . . to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4

Paul then repeats this idea to make it abundantly clear that we have been chosen to live as God wants,

“In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” Ephesians 1:5

He then again stresses that this predestination was associated with a plan,

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. . . ” Ephesians 1:11

And what is this purpose that we have been chosen to fulfil?

“. . . in order  that we, who were the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:12

We have been chosen to represent and promote the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  What a disaster it is, therefore, when those who call themselves Christians don’t either talk about Jesus to others or invite them to hear him talked about.

Thessalonians

One reason why Christians must be clear thinking and determined is that we have each been chosen by God to be a ‘set-apart’ or holy people.

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by God, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13

This privilege of being loved by God is intended to:

“. . . encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:17

Paul then continues to show what this meant for him,

“Finally brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly, just as it was with you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1

But it is not just for Paul and people like him - being chosen for a purpose is for all Christians:

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you form the evil one.  We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things that we command.” 2 Thessalonians 3:4

Summary

What a disaster it is when Christians fail to grasp that we have been chosen for a purpose and fail to see that a major part of this is to point people to Jesus.  John reminds his readers at the beginning of the book of Revelation why Jesus chose us – to bring him glory,

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priest to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6

This book ends with the message the church, the ‘bride of Christ’, has to pass on to others and those who hear this message are then to pass it on further to others:

“The Spirit and the bride say ‘Come!’  And let him who hears say ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift and the water of life.” Revelation 22:17

When Paul was on trial for his life before both Festus, the Roman Governor, and King Agrippa he recounts the story of how the Lord Jesus first called him into his service.  Jesus said to him:

“I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness . . . I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. . .  I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” Acts 26:16-18

King Agrippa realised that Paul, even though he was on trial, had a higher purpose, he was trying to convince his judge to repent and turn to Christ.

“The Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Acts 26:28

There can be no doubt that Paul understood that he had been called and that that calling had a purpose.  He put this into practice, even at the risk of his life.

Darlene Rose Diebler was imprisoned by the Japanese during World War 2.  She was tortured and threatened with death by her captors.  One day her previous camp commandant, Mr Humaghi, visited her in the prison that, many months before, she had been transferred to on charges of espionage.  He told her that her young husband had died.  In spite of this horrific news, Darlene still recognised that she had been chosen to live for Christ even though she was now less that 60 lbs in weight - just skin and bones.  This is how she recalled a meeting with Mr. Humaghi, the man who had power of life and death over her.

“Mr. Humaghi called me over to his office. He said, “Nonya this is war.”  He said, “You’re very young, some day the war really will be over. You can go back to America, you can go dancing, go to the theatres, and you can forget all about these awful days. You can marry again.”

You never spoke to them without first asking permission, they just instinctively threw up their hand, and smacked you across the mouth. I said,

“Sir, may I have permission to speak to you?”

He motioned for me to sit down at his desk, there was a chair there. He went around and sat down behind it. I said,

“I would like to tell you about someone, perhaps you don’t even know. I didn’t learn about him until I was nine years old, back in Boone, Iowa, in America. His name is Jesus. He’s the son of God, The creator, who created all things. That’s why I don’t sorrow, like people that have no hope. I know that some day I will see Russell again. Mr. Humaghi, I don’t know, maybe you never heard about Jesus, so I would like to tell you about Him. That’s why I don’t hate you, Mr. Humaghi. Where the love of Jesus is there’s no room for hatred. My Lord gave his life for you too.”

God gave me the most beautiful opportunity, to lay a plan of salvation before that man. As I talked to him, I saw the tears start down over his cheeks. I said,

“He loves you, Mr. Humaghi. Maybe God brought me here just for you. I don’t know, but if you were to believe it would be worth everything that it’s cost me.”

He got up. He couldn’t control his tears anymore and he went into his room. I could hear him crying and blowing his nose in there. I only know this, that from that moment on that man was my friend.”

After the war, Mr Humaghi became a Christian and undoubtedly a major factor was a young tortured prisoner of war who had lost her husband but not the purpose for which her Lord had chosen her.

All Christians need to assess ourselves to determine how effective we are in the task our Lord has called us to.  Are we playing our part in the team to glorify Christ or are we passengers?

BVP