Election, a heavy word? Mysterious, elusive, perhaps even frightening?
All too often, such reactions are being heard. Or you hear nothing; the subject
is too difficult, let it be, for you cannot do much with it.
That is even worse; like it is not alive anymore.
And yet, we speak about the treasure of the bride of Christ.
About a piece of jewelry that we may wear with joy.

It Is So Simple⤒🔗

Do you still remember, how, when you were younger, you could plan your birthday party? Weeks ahead of time you started to think about it, what you were going to do, and who you should invite. Together with mom and dad a choice was made, how many friends could be invited, and who. Also, to include someone who was not often invited to birthday parties.

Then you started on the invitations “Are you coming? We will take you home”.

Back in the classroom you handed out your invitations, not to everyone, but to those whom you had agreed on at home.

This is how the party started to happen. Often it was nice to receive an invitation from a friend.

You put the invite in a safe spot at home, as a kind of certainty that you really could come.

But one reaction you never heard.

You never heard someone say: “well, I am getting an invite from you, but did you really choose me?” That question did not arise, of course not. For you were holding the proof of their choice in your hands.

But why are Christians posing that question then!

They receive within themselves the work of the Holy Spirit. They notice in their heart the beginning of faith. They may be nurtured in the love of Christ. All together a huge gift from heaven, directly from God. And subsequently they ask: “did you really invite me?”

That is not a logical question. And yet, sometimes this turns into a big problem, a frightening insecurity. While the proof of God’s choice is so recognizably present. No one can say: “Jesus is Lord”, than by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3).

The “simplest” faith, even the beginnings of that, is proof of God’s choice: He wants to give it to you.

Even more: in this way he is inviting you. Not to a birthday party. But to the marriage feast of the Lamb. “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9). Please note: salvation starts with the invitation! In that invitation all God’s love comes along already, his concrete choice, clear and convincingly.

The last thing that fits with this is insecurity. God likes it that you accept his invite. It is a nice thing to attend. Come and attend then, with a deep motivation.

It Is So Deep←⤒🔗

It does go through your mind: “Why me actually?”

That was already so in the school yard. Asking the whole class to come would be too much, it was not possible. You had to make a choice. Then you can belong to the chosen, or not.

But that pales compared to what God does. It would be normal if he had chosen no one at all. For he had nothing to do with classmates. He was dealing with people who had denied him, who had chosen for themselves, to become gods themselves. Also, people who in that manner had estranged themselves. They do not fit anymore in the sphere of God, in the harmony of just light and no darkness anywhere. Arrogant, impossible creatures, is that what God must choose from for his feast?

And who will pay for this? Who cleans them up of dirt and inner filth? Is that not also a reason to not send out invitations?

And yet, God invites. He sends his Word. He puts it on paper, written with the blood of his Son.

That invitation may quiet you. Not from insecurity, but because of your true amazement. That You want these kinds of people! That You love them! That You pay like this! That You…

It Touches On Everything←⤒🔗

So, God did not have to do (any of) this. He is not beholden to anyone. And this still applies. Even with you carrying the invitation in your heart, engraved by the Holy Spirit, the source will always remain God’s grace, his free favour from the depth of his own heart.

But nothing is more vulnerable than that. How quick do believers get used to grace. The invite can become something that they hardly pay any attention to.

Sometimes I say this at Catechism class: “if I would give each of you $10, you would be quite surprised. When I do that again next time, you start to get used to it. The time after that you will ask me: where is our money? This is how it goes, perhaps a little bit slower, but still…”

Now you can do this with dollars. But not with the sacrifice of God’s only born Son, his incomprehensible and deep love in this. Our amazement about this must remain alive.

When you start to find this to be normal or standard, then you are stepping on God’s heart.

That is why God repeats this. He repeats what grace is all about, time after time.

And he shows what it is. Just look around you. I am not beholden to anyone. That is not injustice, but education.

Not that I should enter names of those who will be lost. That is not up to me, God has not told me anything about that, I could not possibly bear that (responsibility). No, I must see that God does not owe me anything. Nothing at all!

Everything that I have and what I can do, there are people who do not have that and who cannot do that. It is also true the other way around, other people can make me jealous in what they are able to achieve, and I have not achieved. God gives much, very much: health, freedom, strength, food and drink, studies, work, marriage, children, etc. But he gives in such a way, that no person has everything. He always gives in such a manner, that you also “miss” something.

That can be very painful. And yet, that is how it becomes clear that what he does give you, is out of sheer grace. Not compulsory, but his free favour.

This touches on everything in my life. Because I do not deserve anything, everything becomes incredibly special.

Truly on everything hangs a price label: “Paid on Golgotha”.

God Gets You Moving←⤒🔗

“But what about all the other people?”

That is continually the last shout, after all the amazement about this. Fortunately so.

For when God chooses you, he also has a task for you. He wants you, in turn, to invite others. As many people as possible!

Election is always good for your neighbourhood as well.

Look at Joseph, he was chosen by God in preference to his brothers. Sun, moon, and stars were bowing down before him. He became viceroy/second in command in mighty Egypt.

Just for himself? No, especially also for his family, his people, to save all these people from the famine.

Look at Moses, he was chosen to be a leader. When that choice is questioned, it costs the lives of people. But he was not a leader unto himself, he was chosen by God to be a blessing for his people and to lead them out of Egypt.

Look at David. He was first forgotten when his father introduced all his sons to Samuel. And yet he was a king after God’s heart. For himself alone? Certainly not, he would as king be a shepherd for his people, so they could live in peace.

Look at yourself. You are a chosen Christian, God’s possession. Just for yourself? Certainly not!

Your whole neighbourhood will now know how it is to walk with God. You have been chosen, not only to come to the feast, but also so that on the way to the feast you could tell others of God’s great deeds (1 Peter 2:9). Who knows how many people will still come to the feast!

“But what about all the other people?” That is continually the last shout, as a kind of a contradiction. God could not possibly be serious about that, it sounds like.

But who are we to be contradicting God when he reveals his favour in all freedom?

And if you are genuinely concerned about all those people, open your mouth then and talk to them! Why is evangelization then the “adopted child” of the church?

Election is a treasure. Your invite to the wedding feast is jewelry you may wear so that you can say to others: Come, join us for the wedding feast!