Are You Being Called?
God in heaven knew who we were before we came into this world. He also knew those He was going to call to Himself down through the ages. Those He was calling would be the first-born of many brethren (Rom. 8:29).
God is drawing many people to Himself today—at the end of this age (John 6:44, 65). They are being called to be conformed to the image of His Son and have Jesus Christ’s nature formed in them (Gal. 4:19). These people will also be glorified if they become conformed to the image of God’s Son by overcoming their evil natures (Rom. 8:30). They must keep Jesus Christ’s works, which are easy and pleasant (John 14:12; Matt. 11:30; 1 John 5:3), and endure to the end to have a part in this holy calling (Rev. 2:25-26; Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1:9). These people are God’s elect because they were predestined to be called by God at this time (Rom. 8:33).
During Jesus’ ministry, He gave information about how to enter His kingdom to only a few, even though He spoke to many people (Matt. 13:11, 16-17; Mark 4:34; Luke 19:42; Eph. 3:4). The many will be called when the Lord returns (Is. 2:1-4).
God knew us before we were formed in the womb and we existed before we came to this earth (Jer. 1:5). He knew those He would call before they were born. Look at Acts 2:47 (KJV) where it says, “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day all those who should be saved.” Now look at the words, “as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself,” in Acts 2:39. Notice the words, “as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed,” in Acts 13:48. Understanding these Scriptures throws a new light on the gospel so that we may know more perfectly God’s plan for all of mankind.
If you are not predestined to be called by God at this time, is there hope for you? Yes, there is hope, because if you seek God, you will be accepted or chosen by Him. The Bible says, if you seek the Lord, He will let you find Him (1 Chron. 28:9; 2 Chron. 15:2). God wants you to seek Him (Ezra 8:22; Psalm 9:10; Prov. 8:17; Luke 11:10).
It doesn’t seem to dawn on people that we seek God by doing good to please Him (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Rom. 3:10-12). When we pursue righteousness and begin to practice it for God, that is when we begin to repent and seek God (Matt. 6:33; Is. 51:1, 7). We seek the Lord, then, when we forsake our evil ways and begin to keep God’s Ways.
All God’s Ways are righteous, so we must make all our ways righteous before Him (Mark 1:3; Prov. 11:28). We do this by practicing only His Ways on this earth, which is His Will (Is. 55:6-9; Matt. 6:10). We should follow the example of Dorcas, who was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did (Acts 9:36). She was a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
Finally, you can be chosen by God through the prayers of someone who is a disciple of Jesus Christ. Many who know this message have prayed for their loved ones and God responded by calling them into the truth.
Are you seeking God today? You should be. As it is says in Acts 17:27, that they would seek God, perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (Amos 5:15; Zeph. 2:3; 2 Tim. 2:25). Seek God’s kingdom and you will be blessed beyond words (Luke 12:31). Understand God’s words and do not shun them, for they are the keys to life eternal (John 8:51; 12:47-50).