At the center of man-made religion is man’s choice. They say such things as “God’s done all He can do, He’s made salvation available, now it’s up to you, it’s your choice.” They often use Joshua’s words to the Israelites, “Choose you this day whom you will serve …” (Joshua 24:15). But Joshua spoke those words to that earthly nation of people under a legal covenant which was based on “do this and live, don’t do it and die.” Their choices time and time again showed that man can never be saved based on his choices because by nature he always chooses evil. Left to himself he will always make the wrong choice! He will never choose God and His way of salvation. The salvation of God, however, is based on His choice. As a matter of fact, Israel as a nation was His earthly people only because of His choice. “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” (Deuteronomy 7:7). They were a type of His spiritual people which He often describes as His “elect.” Election means to choose. God’s choice determined who He would save, selected who would be His people and who He gave to Christ. Paul describes them writing to the believers in Thessalonica. “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 through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (2nd Thessalonians 2:13). It is the very same when he writes to the church at Ephesus: “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). David rejoiced in this blessed truth: “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved.” (Psalms 47:4). Also: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance” (Psalms 33:12). “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation” (Psalms 132:13). Since this is true, God gets all the glory in our salvation and we sing this hymn:

“Sons we are through God’s election,
Who in Jesus Christ alone,
By eternal destination,
Sov’reign grace we here receive.”

And also:

“Tis not that I did choose Thee,
For, Lord, that could not be;
This heart would still refuse Thee,
But Thou hast chosen me.”

G. Shepard