Saved today, and lost tomorrow? (Part 3)

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By Charles E. Wigg

Called by name: First the call of God is both general, but then it is specific. Another scripture tells us that “many are called, but few are chosen”, (Matthew 22:14). We may assume that the reason that the great majority do not respond to the call of the Good Shepherd is because they refuse to hear His voice. We may state here, that God knows those who will respond to His call, and in His Great Foreknowledge, He knew even before the World began. Yet in His great mercy, the same call goes out to all. However those that do respond to His call, are brought to realize that they were known, (by Him), previous to hearing the call. They were known personally, and intimately, even known by name. They discover this, after they have responded to the call of the Good Shepherd. Saul of Tarsus is a prime example of what we mean. He was the “Chief of Sinners”, whose life ambition was to exterminate the remembrance of the name of the Lord Jesus from under heaven. To attempt to do this his principal action was to ravage the Church, to deliver its members to prison and to death. However he discovered after more than half of his life had been spent in this mindless activity, that God had set him apart from his mother’s womb, and in wondrous mercy had sovereignly chosen to reveal His Son in him. (Galatians 1:15-16). He was also called by name, “Saul”.

Some would then ask the question, “But if God knows those that will respond to the call of the Good Shepherd, why preach the Gospel”? The answer to that question is that though God knows, yet we do not know. Only when a person responds do we then know. I am sure that Stephen would never have dreamed that the young man Saul, who was listening to his masterly address in the council, would ever be the great servant of God that he became. Hence the call of the Good Shepherd goes out today, to “Whosoever will”, when the Gospel is preached.
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