For many are called, but few are chosen.” “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (Matthew 22:14; 2 Peter 1:10).
Have you ever been overlooked? Left out? Not chosen? The seeds of rejection reap a harvest of loneliness and despair, especially if your attempt to be among those chosen was the result of serious effort. What went wrong? What more could you have done to make it work? Probably nothing, for human selections are made most often by the whims of those in charge.
Christ is familiar with this type of rejection. He wept over Jerusalem when the beautiful city refused His salvation (Matthew 23:37). What more could the Son of God have done? Fortunately, Christ does not treat us as He was treated, as we are prone to treat each other.
But of necessity, there will come a time of rejection by Christ for many, even the majority. On two different occasions He explained how many are called, but few chosen. Both times were in relation to a parable.
The first one is about the eleventh-hour workers who received the same pay as those who had worked the full day (Matthew 20:1–16). Those who had worked the longest felt that they should have gotten more even though the agreement they had made did not say so. They felt rejected by the denial of their request for more money, thinking that the employer was unfair.
The second parable tells of a man who was rejected from the wedding feast because he had not put on the proper clothing, the “wedding garment” which each guest was required to wear. He was cast out into outer darkness for not conforming with the requirement (Matthew 22:11–14).
Unlike our personal experiences of rejection which often seem to be without reason, these parables teach that if you are obedient to the conditions set down by the Lord, you will surely receive the reward of salvation—of being chosen, for “whosoever will” may come (Revelation 22:17). Essentially, all are called.
God does not want anyone to have to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Everyone is called out of darkness into “His marvelous light” to become part of His spiritual family (1 Peter 2:9). So why are there only “few chosen”? Because of failure to accept the conditions set forth by God. James 2:5 says, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” Those chosen are “an afflicted and poor people” (Zephaniah 3:12) who love God supremely and trust in His name. He has chosen them, but they are unattractive to the world. The powers that be would not choose them. While “poor” may very well apply to material possessions, it more significantly applies to humbleness of spirit, esteeming others better than yourself. This principle is but slightly understood by the unrenewed heart. Humility is equated with low self-esteem, a character trait without value. Yet to the Christian it is a most desirable quality, helping us recognize sin in our life, opening our eyes to the need for serious help. A humble person can be a chosen person because he does not believe he knows it all. Those who are to be joint-heirs with Christ are humble, not subservient, and this ensures their adoption by God.
Adoptive parents usually pick one child; at times, two; three or more has been done on occasion. God adopts as many as will hear and follow Him. No one needs to be unchosen, to suffer rejection, except by his or her own decision.
“And [I] will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18). Adopted by God! Heirs of the kingdom! Can you imagine?
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
The promise is the covenant. What is the covenant by which we become heirs of the kingdom? What is a covenant? An agreement, yes, but more than that, a solemn and binding agreement. It is also a testament which Webster’s Dictionary states as one meaning “a covenant between God and man.” Another definition is “a will.” Here we place the Bible in a deeper position as the Old and New Testaments, God’s “will”—the most solemn and binding agreement ever entered into. And rightly so, for the legacy is priceless—eternal life with God. The basis of the covenant is the moral law of Ten Commandments. In Romans 6:2 we learn that the recompense for sin is death, e.g., the wages for breaking the moral law is death, for sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). But God has promised in that same verse eternal life as a gift, an inheritance. This must be the gift to those who keep the law, for there is no other alternative.
As previously mentioned, God, wanting all mankind to know Him (which, according to John 17:3 means eternal life), summed up His conditions in the Ten Commandments. This was the covenant that Christ made with His people. The speaking of the commandments by God from Mount Sinai could be called the reading of the will. Then the law was placed in a special container called the Ark of the Covenant (Numbers 10:33).
In the new covenant, the ark bearing God’s law is a special container called the heart. Ancient Israel lost the ark and its contents through indiscretions. They broke the covenant many times—and, spiritually speaking, into many pieces. Today, in symbol, the ark is taken away from those whose hearts are at odds with God.
Ellen White described as follows: “The truth, I saw, had had but little effect. When it was talked, there seemed to be no power to stir up the depth of the soul. A death-like stupor has hung upon the professed people of God, and the reason is that the ark is not with them, for its holy commandments have been violated, and God has taken it away in His anger.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, p. 322.
The significance of these two covenants is that the old was written on tables of stone by God’s own finger and can never be changed. It was tangible. The new is visible by one’s behavior. The law in stone cannot change a person. The law in the heart does. But the conditions—the Ten Commandments—remain the same, all ten of them. Ancient Israel also had them written in their hearts when they were converted. The promise does not change, and the way to salvation does not change, for Christ is still in charge.
When there is a will, it must be ratified—completed and put into effect by the testator’s death. Christ fulfilled this condition. It was sin (transgression of the law) that called for the blood of the Lamb, for without shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). It had to be His blood, for it was His law. No other being could substitute for Him, for they did not own the gift of eternal life. You cannot bequeath what you do not own (1 John 5:11, 12).
The Sanhedrin in Christ’s day thought they could usurp the gift. They wanted to kill the Heir to steal His inheritance (Matthew 21:38). But this is impossible. If you were to kill an heir, you would receive a fit punishment and the inheritance would be given to the next of kin. This is essentially what has happened to the rebellious Jews, and the Gentile converts have become heirs along with the faithful Jews.
Were there executors of Christ’s will to mankind?
“Before ascending to heaven, Christ gave His disciples their commission. He told them that they were to be the executors of the will in which He bequeathed to the world the treasures of eternal life.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 27.
This covenant between God and believers like us continues, for Christ is alive! And He will return promptly for His people, those who keep His Ten Commandments in their hearts so that it is seen in the life. But until He returns, He has given us something very precious—fellowship, someone with whom to wait, His church.
“All who believe are to be gathered into one church” (Ibid.). Doesn’t this make sense? All believing the same, encouraging each other in the faith, exhorting (Hebrews 10:25), fulfilling the gospel commission together (Matthew 28:19, 20).
Yes, there is more to becoming a child of God than hearing His voice calling. That is just the first step. Many hear Him speaking to them and settle back in comfort saying, “I believe in God, for I heard His call. Now I am saved.” But the second step requires action on our part. Eli instructed young Samuel that when God would call his name the fourth time, that he should ask the Lord to speak, confirming that he would be the Lord’s servant from that time onward. Servants have things to do for their Master.
The covenant has been written. The will has been ratified. The gift is at hand. There is still time to listen for and respond to the call of God, to present yourself before Him as His servant. Then you will know what to do, and there is much to be done. Heirs of the kingdom, oh, why do we linger? “And they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). You are called; be sure you are chosen!