February 18, 2025

Who are those “who are the called according to His purpose?’   In theological discussion, the subject I am going to address first, in this devotional, is “the called,” and although there may be varying opinions on this issue… I will take the view that before time was, that Yahweh knew each one of us and the full life we each would live… Just as before time was, Yeshua [Jesus] was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world… in other words, Yahweh who sees the end from the beginning already knew all about us and what He planed for us [preferred what we should choose along the way]… remember what Moses said:

“ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” deut 30:19 nkjv

Now Yahweh does have a special people… and He has made provision for us to live within the boundaries of His Commandments, etc. “choices,” if you will. Consider what Paul says about “he called,” in Romans Chapter 8:

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” rom 8:29-30 nkjv

To me, this sounds like a done deal… Yahweh has already done this in “eternity,” yet do you think we can choose our way out of His “predestined” plan for us? How can one be conformed to the image of His Son? Who does the conforming? Could it be that our choices may weigh in on our being justified and glorified, maybe we are a “work in progress.” And, thankfully, I think, we would have to really mess things up to get out of Yahweh’s grace and longsuffering… although I think one could if they blaspheme the Holy Spirit…

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” mat 12:31-32 nkjv   Chilling words. What would cause one to do that?

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

First, note that those “separating” things in verse 35 are all our of our control… they are in Yahweh’s hands for Him to distribute as He sees fit… as He did in the Passover plagues in Egypt, likewise as well as when sin brought similar fate upon His people… we can’t do anything about those things, except trust Yahweh for His decided use of them whether for our good or for our distress… either way He will see us through, even unto death.

Paul says that none of the perils in verses 38-39 shall be able to separate us from the love of God…” But, what if we “choose” to separate from our love for the truth and follow a false deception?

I think its possible that a big player in the last days deception is the “any other created thing.” That could be created by Yahweh, man or AI, [anti-christ]. That said, we are warned that the last days deceptions would include miracles and the like… such as:

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,” 2 thes 2:9-11 nkjv

It seems to me that if a “believer” chooses to consider the Holy Spirit’s counsel and the Word of Yahweh a lesser value of confidence, than that of the “deception,” that their rejection of the truth would be a blasphemy act of choice.

So then, how do we stay faithful if we don’t have our vessels full of oil [Holy Spirit presence] and stay filled with Yahweh's Word? It is my observation that more and more people are being distracted by the digital jungle that they have chosen to indulge in and thereby being conformed into the “other created thing image.” With all the coming technological controls and influences and intimidations, we must remember who we are in Christ and focus upon being “conformed” in His image as we were, from before time was, predestined to be. We must be a part of the conforming agreement. I think.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” rom 12:1-2 nkjv

Shalom, john