Destiny is a Choice

Scripture: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6

Observation: Paul is NOT stating that there are only certain people who have been chosen and/or are predestined to believe in Jesus, as many, many people have read this passage. The "us" is not himself, his friends, the church in Ephesus, or believers. It is all mankind - humans.

God chose mankind, before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless! With that plan, he then created the world for our pleasure, and put mankind in it. And - full of our own free will - when mankind rejected our holiness and turned to sin, God in his love predestined a solution to that issue ... his son Jesus, sacrificed by God's will, as a glorious example of his grace, and freely given to mankind for our redemption.

In other words, everyone is chose to be redeemed, and that redemption was predestined for all to receive, but everyone therefore can choose or reject that destiny for themselves.

Application: I have chosen to accept my destiny - the love of God, through my belief in the sonship and lordship of Jesus Christ. And clearly if this destiny was offered to me before I was even born, then obviously it isn't something I can earn ... it was already given to me.

This makes it all the more sad, then, when someone "loses" this destiny by rejecting Jesus. God chose them, and they choose the world instead. This is the sadness to see in others: Non-believers are those who have rejected their own destiny in pursuit of some temporal and temporary existence.

Prayer: Thank you, Abba, for choosing me!! It is to your glory that your love and grace is so great that you would do this before I even existed, knowing I would be a sinful being. You love is beyond my comprehension!!!!! Thank you. May I seek your will and your face, by serving all your other chosen people here on earth to the best of my ability. Amen.