Are there many people trying to convince you to believe in Jesus? Are you tired of hearing the gospel? Wait, don’t be mistaken, I am not trying to evangelise to you. Just a 1 second statement to tell you, not all are chosen. Many are invited, but not all are chosen.
When I was a student, I joined the Campus Crusade for Christ and was taught that Jesus’ last commandment when He walked on earth was to ask His disciples to go and preach the good news to everyone in the world, telling them that when they receive Jesus as their Saviour, they will not perish but have eternal life. However, I soon discovered that many people will reject this good news gospel. They either walk away the minute they realise you are going to tell them about Jesus, or they courteously say they belong to some other religion or for some, will even take time to violently argue why they do not believe in Jesus.
As I grew older, there were more than enough problem to fill my minds. Honestly, I was not very keen to evangelise (trying to get people to receive Jesus). Not that I am shy but that I really do not bother much about whether they are saved or not. Particularly if that is someone I dislike. Why would I care? Later in my life when I had accumulated more enemies, when there were a whole lot of people who had cause hurt to me in one way or another in my life, Oh, how I wish these people perish! Nevertheless, I love God. And I know that it is Jesus’ desire for them to be saved. So when you love someone, you want to do things that matters to him. I know that the lives of people matters to Jesus. He loves them. Not I love them.
Many people got it wrong. It is sad that non-believers did not realise that it is Jesus who is concerned about them. It is Jesus who loves them. They thought I am interested in winning them over as if I am on some commission or target and will feel the thrill of winning and convincing someone to believe in something. Actually, I do not feel the thrill. I find it a waste of time. I would have gain more thrill investing my energy and time playing some game than to argue with some people about the gospel. In fact I believe many Christians feel the same way too. Nevertheless, we want to do it because Jesus loves the people.
One day, I read the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23:
Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. Matthew 13:11 (NASB)
Indeed, the gospel will be preached to many. However, not all have been permitted to understand. A similar verse in John 6:44:
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. John 6:44-45 (NIV)
Then I remember the story of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew 22 and 14, Jesus said:
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 (NIV)
It is a truth that not everyone has been permitted to understand the gospel and it is also true that the devil will prevent them from remembering even the little bit they have heard. That is why, logic may not help in convincing. When Jesus first sent His twelve disciples to preach the gospel to the Jews, He told them this:
13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
From all the above scriptures, it is clear, that not all are chosen to understand. To those who are chosen to understand, they will embrace the gospel with joy.
Each time, I look at the people who will abuse the name of Jesus and reject Him, I feel sad for these people that they were just simply people who has not been chosen. For if they were chosen, their inheritance is the Kingdom of God.
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