Hang in there.

[seekeroftruth]

Romans 11:1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.​

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7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:​

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“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”​

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9 And David says:​

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“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”​

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Can you imagine.... What would happen in the US today [or Israel for that matter] if they hung a man until he was dead and then lost the body?!?!? Where's the body? Who took the body???? How did Jesus just disappear?????

Isarel was conquered by Rome. Rome was running things. Israel had some input, but only if it applied to worship. Rome hung an Israelite on the Cross until He was dead at the request of the bigwigs in the temple. They even skewered Him with a blade and He didn't even wince. They put Him in a hole carved out of solid rock, and sealed that hole with a huge rock. I read somewhere they put a Roman Seal on the Rock and placed a guard at the site. But Jesus and His body disappeared.

Israel was trying to be good. They just could not handle a man who snubbed His nose at their hard held laws. God took a day off on the Sabbath. God told them to keep it Holy. So, they did. They refused to work [unless their work was catching people not working]. Cooking and cleaning and baths and laundry were all completed before the Sabbath. The fields were all gleaned before the Sabbath. Jesus snubbed his nose at their hard held laws. They were trying to be good but Jesus came along.

God knew that not everyone would get it. He knew as soon as they figured out how to combine their idols with the worship in the temple... They could turn a profit; they would be flocking to temple but only for the sales they could make. It's the same today. As soon as a rich man realizes there is money to be made working from a pew, they claim to be Christian "hallelujah!".

God is in charge. He knows what you and I will do every single minute of our lives. He knows what you are going to do before you do it. Oh, we do have a choice. We can choose not to do something just as easily as we can choose to do it. God knows what we will choose. He also knows how many times we will change our minds. He knows how it turns out. He sculpted us. He knows how it turns out.

There is nothing we can do to get God to choose us. We can't do 100 great deeds and win a spot in Heaven. We can't sit at a computer and post a Bible Study every morning and earn a spot in Heaven. We can't build a beautiful bouquet for placement in front of the altar and earn a spot in Heaven. God already knows how it turns out. The only thing we can do.... is to be chosen. Make no mistake.... God has already chosen.

God knows only a remnant of Israel's vast population would choose to be a Child of God. Paul said there's nothing you can do to be part of that remnant. God has to choose you. Paul held the coats and watched his buddies murder Stephen in the street. Paul knows you can't earn a place in Heaven. Paul knows we make too many mistakes.

Still, hang in there... You might be one of the chosen.

Hang in there...