July 24

The last shall be first and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:16.

We believe that God loved the whole world from eternity, created all men unto salvation, none unto damnation, and earnestly wills the salvation of all men. All those who perish, perish because of their own fault, because of their unbelief, and because they wilfully and persistently, to the end of their lives, resisted the Word and grace of God. The cause of this contempt of the Word is not God's foreknowledge or predestination, but man's perverted will, which resists the Holy Spirit.

Can it surprise us that but few are chosen? Not at all. For look at the kind of people who are not chosen. Who are they? Do they earnestly seek their soul's salvation? Do they accept the kind invitation of God through the Gospel? No; they scornfully despise it. They make light of the invitation, as Christ tells us in the Parable of the Great Supper, and go their ways, one to his

farm, another to his merchandise, and others, as we hear in another parable, even take the king's servants and entreat them spitefully and slay them. The king who would not severely punish an outrage like this would not be worthy to be called a king. Even if these people had done this only to an earthly king, he would have been justified in showing his wrath; for a king must be respected. But the king who invites men to the Great Supper in heaven is none less than God Himself. The Son whom they slew is none less than Christ. His wedding-feast comprises all the grace, mercy, righteousness, joy, and bliss which He has merited for us. Whosoever, therefore, makes light of this invitation loves darkness more than light, money more than God's grace, the lust of the flesh more than the service of his Creator and Redeemer.

Can the fact that such people are not chosen, that, on the contrary, they are to be punished in all eternity, surprise or alarm any true Christian? Whose fault is it that they will be cast out into outer darkness on the great Day of Judgment, when the King comes to view those whom He has bidden to His great Supper? Whose fault is it that they are not numbered with the chosen few? It is entirely their own fault; they refused to believe, or they did not keep the faith.

Prayer.

Dear Lord God, I am a sinner. This one thing I feel, that I need help; therefore I come and seek it in all humility. The Canaanitish woman was a Gentile; she could hardly help but conclude that she was not elected, or chosen. If, now, she approached Thee and did not permit such thoughts to prevent her from beseeching Thee for grace and mercy, I, who have already been called by Thy Gospel, surely ought to follow her example and say: Lord, I come before Thee and am in need of one thing and another; whence shall I obtain help but from Thee in heaven, through Thine only Son, my Savior, Christ Jesus? I know my prayer will be heard. Amen.

Oh, can it be, Lord Jesus, That Thou hast chosen me, So poor and so unworthy, Thy very own to be, To dwell amid Thy splendors, To gaze upon Thy face, And through unending ages Thy matchless beauties trace?