Without drawing there is no coming

Are we always aware that we, as Christians (according to the Bible) are drawn to faith, by God? Without which it would be impossible for us to be lead towards the cross of Calvary and to the forgiveness of sin!? This knowledge and this spiritual acknowledgement, that it is so, should have far-reaching consequences for our thinking, feelings and faith. Above all, when we fail, act in contradiction to what we know to be correct, sin and err. Then we may ask ourselves, how can it be that God thinks me worthy, even though I disappoint Him often? The fact that I believe in God, and have perhaps done so for several years, is proof that I have been chosen (otherwise it would not be the case and the Bible would not make mention of it). And then one receives the realization that it is absolutely true, as is written in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” To “glory” would not even spring to mind when one recognize one's own failure. One is rather astonished that one can still, and want to, value faith and grace – even when one recognizes that one is not worthy and desperately in need of redemption – every day! To know that you are indeed chosen (according to Ephesians 1:4 before the foundation of the world was laid) only causes a person to be awed at God's grace and mercy. Then it is not just pious words and Christian vocabulary, but profound personal experiences, which become more immanent the more one also gets to know oneself. Spiritual insight is absolutely a gift. All the more so, when one's own life in the fallen flesh, brings this invisible reality more and more into focus. We read in 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Such an assessment then also takes place directly within oneself.

And when one can do this in the Light of the Holy Spirit, then pious theory becomes a practical faith, which does not allow for any doubt in God's grace and one's own natural (sinful) nature. The natural man is spiritually completely dead. Should God not have decided, in His sovereignty and grace, to save and redeem mankind, and awaken them, so to speak, to life, no person could be saved. And that would indeed have been just! We have no right to object – to “murmur”, as we see in the scripture at the beginning hereof. It is, as we read in John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.'' God destined! It is impossible for us to grasp and comprehend the depth of this, but it is a Biblical and spiritual fact. Certainly, this issue still raises some questions. Some are also of the opinion that they can criticize it, and feel obliged to, with provocative (religious) humanism, reduce and omit many Biblical statements. But, that is ultimately dangerous and opposed to Christianity. We must (should) endure it, if God (still) retains some things for Himself and even subdues us – Romans 9:20-23 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory” Let us be grateful, especially as we must recognize (despite all Christian knowledge), that we are still inclined to and capable of all evil. Faith in grace and election should change us daily – then love becomes that which it is: God's essence and His glory! Amen.

Jörg Bauer