Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

Have you ever wondered what it means to be chosen in Christ? The word "chosen" has a powerful meaning. When we were children we choose sides for baseball or basketball teams, we did it based on one's ability or size, and the team member we pick performed based on their own strength. However, when God chose us, it wasn't based on our ability, size, or strength. His choice was solely based on His love for us, and nothing else. He desired people who would love Him and obey Him. So, if you feel like you are not good enough for God's love, remember that His choice for you was based on His immense love for you, there is nothing else we can add to it.  

The Greek word for chosen is eklegomai, which means to pick out or select as recipients of a special favor or privilege.  God chose us because He wanted to position us or place us in a group of hand-picked individuals who have a distinct purpose.  You may ask “what might that purpose be?”  

Our purpose is to receive His love fully and demonstrate how much He loves us by loving others with the same measure.  Wow, it sounds so simple doesn’t it?  It should, because it is just that simple.  The amazing thing about being chosen is, we cannot be disqualified because like I said earlier it’s not about our performance.  God is the qualifier and we are receivers of that qualification.

There is a concept that is both amazing and difficult to comprehend - that God chose us even before the creation of the earth! This implies that we existed long before the earth was created, and that we met with the Lord in the heavens. He knew us intimately and bestowed grace upon us then, so that we could become children of God on earth now.

Paul described this concept in his letter to Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:8-9 NIV "So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…"

This idea is truly awe-inspiring! Imagine, grace given to us even before the beginning of time. This means that God had a plan in place for us to become followers of Jesus before the earth was even created. We hold the power to either submit to the divine script that God has for us or turn a blind eye. But, if we choose to disregard our assigned purpose, we risk the possibility of Christ summoning someone else to fulfill the task we refused to do. May this be a warning to all those who consider rebelling against Christ Jesus, there is so much to lose. Instead, let us commit ourselves to follow the path that has been laid out for us, and in doing so, fulfill our destined purpose.  

This principle is laid out in Esther 4:13-14 ESV  …“Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The beauty of scripture lies in the way it presents integrated thought throughout the different books of the Bible. "Being Chosen" has more to do with what God has desired to do through us from the beginning of time than what we want to accomplish in our short lives on earth. 

We are often taught from a young age that we should pursue a good paying career, marry the person of our dreams, have children, and live in a large home.  In times past, there were families who devoted themselves to following Christ. They understood that the greatest calling in life was not to amass wealth, but to attend seminary and either become a pastor who could lead people to Christ Jesus or spread the gospel on the mission field. However, society has reshaped our priorities, causing us to value material gain over pursuing Christ. 

Let us remember the example of those who went before us and recommit ourselves to pursuing what truly matters in life.  Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is crucial in building strong communities of faith. It brings honor to the Father when we help others establish a right relationship with Him. Moreover, when we do this, we are blessed with a greater understanding of Christ as we add another piece to the mosaic of Christs' life. This, in turn, brings Jesus into clearer focus for us and others.

What truly matters is Jesus, and His relationship to us, and our relationship to each other, because Jesus lives within my brothers and sisters.  As members of the faith community, we are connected by His presence within us. So let us cherish these connections and hold them close, for they are what truly matter.

Stephen Barnett