"Do you know that you were chosen
Long before the world began
That by God you were selected
And appointed for His plan?"
You've all heard it: God knew you before He even created you. As the book of Jeremiah says, God knew you before He even began composing you in the womb, and He's always had a plan for you. God knows you better than anyone else, and because of that, He has formed this flawless plan for you to become the person which He has dreamed you to be.
But what happens when you take a wrong path? What happens when instead of walking the straight and narrow path, you wander along the edges of a wide one? What does God do then?
See, it's often here that people give up. They've believed that God has a plan for them, then they fall to their flesh and take a broken road, filled with sin and despair. Once the guilt sets in and the reality of our shortcomings is apparent, humanity gives up. I mean, we're done; there is no way we could turn back and be used by a sinless God. He washed us clean, and we blew it; we were made pure and have now regained our old stains.
If you relate to the above, I have beautiful news for you: God is not a one time experience, but an everyday relationship. He is not startled by your mistakes, but has already created a master plan that is in your favor, to grow you and help you become the person He has meant for you to be.
Sometimes, that doesn't makes sense. Why would God work overtime on your sinful life for your good? `Why wouldn't He just pass along to a better person? Why are you even worthy of such an honor that the Creator of the Universe would take time to craft a plan which would take your mistakes and allow them to work for your best interest?
Love. God is a good, good Father who looks upon you daily with more love than anyone on earth may even fathom. He wants to see His children succeed, and He knows that sometimes that requires them to makes mistakes and learn from them; He knows occasionally second chances are necessary. He is filled with mercy, and He showers it upon all those He loves; they are forgiven, their slate has been wiped clean! He loves His children enough to discipline them and to train them the way they should go, but He also loves them enough to catch them when they fall.
It is because all of this overwhelming love that God chose us. You heard me right. You, the one reading this exact article right now, is CHOSEN by God. When He sent His Son to die on the cross, He had your name in mind. He could look along the span of your life and see every mistake you would ever make, and He still thought you were worth it.
It's the best gift ever given; no work of your hand will ever earn being chosen by Him. If it were up to you, you'd die trying; you could never measure up. But it's not up to you, because that same loving God who forgives and showers you in mercy has chosen you. As His Son hung on that cross, dying for your sins, He could see your life-- your mistakes, your victories-- and He still and he still wanted you. He still wants you today. He wants a relationship with you-- He wants you to begin to know Him the way He knows you.
Daily, He still continues to choose you. As i said before, God isn't a one time experience. He is always looking at you, during the highs and the lows of your life, and choosing you. His hand is forever outreached toward you, waiting for you to choose Him. He lets you make the decision to know Him or not, but there is never a day of your life that He doesn't long for the child whose heart He has chosen. It's adoption, He wants to be your Heavenly Father, but you must allow Him to be for the relationship to reach its beautiful potential. He has the power to do all things, yet gives you the freedom of choice.
Not everyone chooses Him; some spend their entire lives searching high and low for the acceptance and love God showers his children with. The difficulty of life is inevitable, however those living chosen by God and accepting it have an advantage: God is on their side, and they are never alone. They do not have to worry for tomorrow, because they know that God has already written their tomorrow to work for their well-being. They do not live a life of guilt, but live renewed, cleansed daily by the redeeming blood of their Savior. They are gifted a comforter, a healer, a friend, and a father. They have a priceless relationship with God, and work everyday to live their lives for His glory.
Even when they fail Him, even when they sin, even when they are the exact opposite of living like a child of Christ-- He chooses them, and they still get the chance to live chosen. To live without guilt. To live overwhelmed with a heavenly love. He does not see them as their sinful mess, but as being blameless, holy, forgiven, righteous, free, and so much more.
By living chosen, you recognize the reality of your true identity: you are who God says you are, not who your flesh, guilt, or even the world says you are. You are living set apart by the one true King for His work. You are loved. You have been made worthy. You are blameless.
God does not stop choosing you when you fall to the flesh--don't let your shortcomings be the justification for not choosing God. Start living chosen, and see the world through God's eyes, rather than your own.
