Author: a writer Sharing Christ

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deut. 7:7-8)

Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deut 9:3-5; see also Deut. 18:12)

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  (1Cor. 1:26-31)

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2Cor. 12:9-10)

Our God has not changed. He still is the same faithful God that He was in the days of Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan. He still chooses to love us in spite  of who we are in our sinfulness and insignificance. He still pours strength into us because we are weak and have need of Him.

Some would question God and say, “How could a loving God order the conquest of Canaan?” The answer is found in our verses: our God is a holy God who must judge sin. In the Old Testament, He used Israel to bring judgment on the nations that turned away from Him. He did not do it immediately (Gen. 15:16), but in longsuffering waited until there was no remedy. Yet in that day, just as in this, those who turned from their sin and sought the LORD were spared (see Rahab, Joshua 2). God’s dealings with mankind are different today, however, in that we are told to “love your enemies” (Luke 6:35). God will indeed bring justice and righteousness, but it may not be in this life, and He will do it himself.

As we consider those who are chosen, let us consider God’s Chosen One, the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;” (Isaiah 42:1 ESV)

Behold Him, the perfect Servant, yet Son of God.
Worship Him, the meek and lowly One who bore the weight of our sin.
Obey Him, the exalted Sovereign who will one day reign from sea to sea; and
Watch for Him with anticipation, the Bridegroom who comes again to receive His bride to Himself.

How wonderful that He should choose us! (John 15:16)

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”  (Ephesians 1:4).

I especially enjoyed a meditation by Spurgeon today (Morning and Evening Jan 26 / Look unto Me). Here is an excerpt.

“Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15)! Whoever can utter these words has expressed sweeter music than all the cherubim and seraphim could ever sing. Heaven is found in the depth of that word–Father! In that word is all I could ever ask, all my needs could ever demand, and all my heart could ever desire.

I have all of everything, throughout all of eternity, when I can say, “Father.”

Who made this relationship possible? The Father’s beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!

An interesting creation fact…

…The fourth generation of monarch butterflies is a little bit different than the first three generations. The fourth generation is born in September and October and goes through exactly the same process as the first, second and third generations except for one part. The fourth generation of monarch butterflies does not die after two to six weeks. Instead, this generation of monarch butterflies migrates to warmer climates like Mexico and California and will live for six to eight months until it is time to start the whole process over again.  http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/

I was considering the Greek word metamorphoō today, which means “to change into another form.” It is used only 4 times in the Scriptures, and there are certainly lessons to be learned here.

“And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.” (Mark 9:2, also in Matt 17:2)

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“And be not conformed [outward, W.E. Vine] to this world: but be ye transformed [inward process, W.E. Vine] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ” Romans 12:2

This led me to consider a different word, allassō, which means “to make other than it is” (W.E. Vine). I believe it is used, in a good sense, only in 1 Corinthians 15.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1Corinthians 15:51-52).

Finally, metaschēmatizō , meaning “to change in fashion or appearance, change outwardly, fashion anew” (W.E. Vine) is found here:

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV)

C. H. Spurgeon writes,

See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that insect with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof. That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like him, for you shall see him as he is. Be content to be like him, a worm and no man, that like him you may be satisfied when you wake up in his likeness.  (December 30, Morning and Evening)

God has given us a beautiful picture of transformation and resurrection by giving us the metamorphosis of a butterfly. We are being transformed down here, but the final, great transformation will take place in a moment, when we are raptured up to be with Christ to a much nicer climate than Mexico! Are you excited?

What are your thoughts on this subject?