PRAISE INSPIRED BY ELECTION
Multitudes are perishing, being
deceived by the strong delusion of Arminianism, freewillism, easy believism,
and decisionism. God has sent "them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but
had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God
for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation" (II Thess. 2: 11-13). Yes, my friend, we also would
be damned in false religion, had it not been for God's eternal election of us
to salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Had God left us to the choice of our
sinful free-will, we would be eternally lost. This fact humbles us before God
and inspires our hearts to sing his praise with David of old, saying,
"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee,
that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy
house, even of thy holy temple" (Ps. 65:4). Here are three reasons for
which every believer should continually offer praise and thanksgiving to God.
1. WE WERE CHOSEN BY GOD IN ETERNAL LOVE.
Before the world was made the
eternal God set his heart upon us. He loves us with an everlasting love. In his
great love, God chose us and determined to save us by the substitutionary
sacrifice of his own dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the man
whom thou choosest," O Lord.
2. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED BY DIVINE,
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE. At the time appointed God sent his Spirit to us,
revealing Christ in the gospel, and gently, tenderly, effectually, irresistibly
caused us to come to him in faith. Aren't you thankful God would not let you
perish in unbelief? "Blessed is the man whom thou causest to approach unto
thee."
3. WE SHALL
BE SATISFIED WITH THE GOODNESS OF GOD'S HOUSE. We are satisfied with all
the needs of our souls here by the goodness of God's grace and providence. And
we shall be satisfied with all the goodness of God in eternal glory (Ps.