Chosen

John 3:16 (ESV Strong's)

For God So Loved the World

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Whoever trusts in the name of the Lord will be saved. They will be clean and a virgin in Christ. Being a virgin in Christ does not mean they will be chosen for the Bride of Christ and invited to the wedding feast, but they will have eternal life. 

The Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV Strong's)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

If we are ready for bridegroom, we will become His Bride. Being saved is only a part of being ready. We must repent and believe, then we must bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 

If we are ready, we will join Him at the wedding feast. If we are not, we won’t. Our salvation will not be lost if we are not, but there will be a loss. 

Matthew 22:11-14 (ESV Strong's)

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Made Manifest

1 John 1:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

Jesus is the light from the beginning of creation who was made manifest in the flesh. The word of God is the divine expression which enters creation bringing eternal life. God the Father is beyond creation, but is with us through His Son and Holy Spirit. He came to us in the form of man that we might come to Him in the image of God. 

The Plan For Our Life

Ephesians 3:8-9 (ESV Strong's)

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,

Paul is an instrument and servant of the light coming into the world. Let his light reveal the light of creation. It is through the grace of the Lord that we receive His grace. All are predestined to receive this offer and to be made in the image of God. 

Jesus Christ is that image. He is the plan for our life. If we follow the plan, we will find find the unsearchable riches of His abundant life. We will see the light. 

Like Chaff

Zephaniah 2:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

1 Gather together, yes, gather,

O shameless nation,

2 before the decree takes effect

—before the day passes away like chaff—

before there comes upon you

the burning anger of the Lord,

before there comes upon you

the day of the anger of the Lord.

Far from producing the fruit of the Lord, Israel had become a dry vine that was in danger of being scattered like chaff in the wind. They have chosen the fire of the burning anger of the Lord as their destiny. They have suffered much as a people over the centuries, but have yet to experience the great and final tribulation promised as the day of the Lord. Once the anger of the Lord is spent, they will be restored and will be the leaves on the tree of life that will serve in the healing of the nations. 

The Lord is looking for the fruit of the Spirit from all those who are attached to the vine of life. Those not producing are in danger of being broken off and thrown into the fire. Our destiny with God has always been a matter of our choice. We are predestined in this way. The wisdom of God will show us the way. 

A Clean Sweep

Zephaniah 1:2-3 (NIV)

2 “I will sweep away everything

from the face of the earth,”

declares the Lord.

3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea—

and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”

“When I destroy all mankind

on the face of the earth,”

declares the Lord,

Zephaniah 1:7-9 (NIV)

7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

for the day of the Lord is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;

he has consecrated those he has invited.

8 “On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the officials

and the king’s sons

and all those clad

in foreign clothes.

9 On that day I will punish

all who avoid stepping on the threshold,

who fill the temple of their gods

with violence and deceit.

Matthew 21:12-13 (NIV)

Jesus at the Temple

21:12-16pp — Mk 11:15-18; Lk 19:45-47

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The Old Testament prophesied about the cleaning that will take place on the day of the Lord. Jesus demonstrated His zeal for the righteousness of His house. On that day coming, He will sweep His house clean of every bit of the leaven of wickedness. 

The face of the earth may imply His chosen people. Jerusalem is at the center of God’s earth and Israel is the face of mankind that stands before God. The great tribulation in Revelation is the final punishment of Israel before they are restored to their place and glory among the nations. 

Baptized In The Name

Acts 2:37-38 (NASB Strong's)

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism in the name of Jesus takes place in the heart. It begins with the repentance of sins. The living waters of life will wash them away making room in the heart for the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

The outward sign of baptism in Christ is a changed heart. A changed heart will be visible in a changed life. Anyone who receives the light of Christ will become visible in the body of Christ as children of the light. 

Ephesians 5:13-14

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

He Executes His Word

Joel 2:10-11 (ESV Strong's)

10 The earth quakes before them;

the heavens tremble.

The sun and the moon are darkened,

and the stars withdraw their shining.

11 The Lord utters his voice

before his army,

for his camp is exceedingly great;

he who executes his word is powerful.

For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;

who can endure it?

He who provided the lights in heaven will withdraw the knowledge and order they give as heaven and earth shake on that day. The Lord will be true to His word and render the consequences He promised for disobedience. He utters His voice before the invading arm coming  to Zion to execute His judgement.