"Ready Made"

 "But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:" (Hebrews 9:7 KJV)

  "The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (PSALM 19:8-14 NLT)

 I can remember something Pastor Jack said, several years ago, as he was sharing on predestination, and how it is that God knows, but we are clueless; something that is all worked out as God's perfect plan and purposes, for each and every one of those He has chosen. The way Jack explained what that might look like when we arrive at those, Pearly Gates, is that going in we shall see a sign that says, "The Called," which will somewhat make us feel as though we made the right choice, as if we answered the Call. Yet, once we passed in through those Gates, we would see the other side of that sign, which would say, "The Chosen." 

 Not that we don't have a choice, because everyone must choose, when He gives us the right opportunity! It is His calling upon us, at just that right time and in that right setting, when we must make the right choice! However, it might appear, we were somehow prepared for our opportunity, we just didn't know how or why, but we surely realized it, once we accepted His invitation! 

 This second chamber was one that was very sacred and even the high priest needed to cleanse himself, before he would offer blood for the people. It was also shown that he had bells along the bottom of his robe; and a rope tied around his ankle. As he walked around, sprinkling the blood, the bells would ring; if they stopped ringing, then it meant he died, and then they would drag him out with the rope. (At least that is the way I heard the bells and rope were meant for.) 

 Besides this choice we are given, I truly believe that He doesn't give up! At least that is what I see in my own situation. As I said before, I truly believed that God was real, and that God made the heavens and the earth, just as the beginning of the Bible says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) I knew this more than any other Scripture in the Bible, mostly because every time I started reading the Bible, I know where I started, but I seldom ever finished! 

 Several times in my life growing up, I had many chances to make the choice, as I was offered many times, in all sorts of settings and ways of communication. As you might have read, I really did think I needed to practice keeping those 10 Commandments, and I set out at around the age of twelve to make that my goal. When I saw full well it wasn't possible to do, I simply quit trying and basically did what I wanted, no matter the cost. 

 Over the next decade, I had several times when I prayed and called out to God; most of them I still remember. Believe it or not, but there was peace in my heart, each of those times I can remember. It was that last call that got hold of me, the one that made me move towards that call and actually run down to the service. Looking back, I truly believe that was my last call; but then again, I also believe in my heart that He still wouldn't have given up on me! 

 This is more than just something we are called to, and we really must believe that we were chosen! It is not by accident that we were where we happened to be, and the circumstance we were in at the right time! It was just the right place and time, and God made His move...

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)