The mystery of choice

God’s Word tells readers to choose Christ. Christ tells readers, “You did not choose me, but I have chosen you . . .” (John 15:16). It is clear we cannot save ourselves nor even want to, and that salvation is by the grace of God through faith. Yet not everyone is saved. Are God’s choices unfair? Is the human heart stronger than His irresistible grace? Can anyone figure this out?

The devotional writer thinks there is a solution. He figures that God must pick some and not pick others. In the author’s mind, the only answer is that Christ died for those God picks (elects), and not for anyone else. He says if Jesus died for everyone, but not everyone is saved, then His work of redemption fails. Since God cannot fail, then He must have died for just a few. This teaching is called limited atonement.

Today, I read it again and thought of how God reveals Himself. The Bible says what can be known about Him is plain to see in creation:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:18–23)

God sent out a revelation of Himself. Some reject it. Can they say that God failed in His revelation? Not according to God. These verses hold those who reject that revelation accountable for their rejection and for their idolatry.

God spoke and gave us the Word of God. Scripture declares who He is and what He has done. Some may never read it. Some read it and say NO. Does their response mean that the Word of God is useless, meaningless, a failed book without any power?

The Bible also says that God sent Jesus Christ as the fullest revelation of Himself. In Christ, we see the radiance of God, the exact imprint of His nature (Hebrews 1:3). Many refused that revelation as Jesus appeared to them in human flesh. Does that mean their refusal implies God’s revelation was faulty?

When Jesus died for the sin of the world and rose from the dead, many believed, but many rejected His offer of forgiveness and eternal life. Many still do. Is it logical then to say His work of redemption is a failure? Not at all. No one can say that. On the other hand, can we say that redemption is only for those who accept when every other revelation from God is offered to everyone?

The reality of the matter is that no one wants God in their life. Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, and Romans 3:10-12 all say, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Simply put, unless God puts His hand on our hearts and says, “You” then no one would believe, not one of us. We were created with an ability to choose, but sin disables our YES button. Sin makes us selfish, self-determined. We will not love God. Is that God’s fault? Whose fault is it when some hear the gospel and reject it? Is it the failure of God or the failure of those who say no?

The devotional writer cannot reconcile the power of God to save with the choice of sinners to say NO. Certainly God must change our minds, but why not every mind? Fortner concludes that Jesus only died for the elect or otherwise His redemption is a failure. The Bible says He died for all and anyone who is saved is saved by grace, yet we are still held accountable for choosing to refuse Him. This is a difficult conundrum, one of those mere mortals cannot fully grasp.

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy . . . So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory . . . .” (Romans 9:14–23)

^^^^^^^

Jesus, I’m humbled by this. I’m also convinced that instead of asking why You save some and not others, I should wonder why You save anyone! All are sinners. All merit wrath. All say NO to You. Without the gift of faith and new life, Your death for us would be a total failure because no one would respond to it. Redemption is what it is. Some reject their need for it, but I cannot conclude that God makes it available only to a select few. I cannot understand why or how some believe and some do not, why some are vessels of mercy and some are vessels of wrath. Faith is sometimes blind. You want me to tell others that You died to forgive and redeem them, not try and solve the mystery of how You can choose sinners and save them, yet still hold responsible those who say NO for their failure to be saved.