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. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified -Romans 8:29-30.
According to God's teaching to His followers, which is also a revelation of the mysteries of His kingdom to his believers or followers or children, it doesn't matter what you may have done in your life and how you see yourself as a result, God can make something wonderful out of your past. He is never surprised by anything we do or have done. He knew all that would happen in our lives before we came here. He knew our beginning, our ending and everything in between that would take place on this earth before we were even formed in our mother's womb. Therefore He had a plan for each person's life according to the decisions we would make and the rewards or consequences we would incur as a result of these choices. He knew just how to continue the conscientious life or fix the messed up ones when they both accepted His calling. Here's an even greater mystery. He knew us even before we were formed in our mother's womb (see Jeremiah 1:5-6).
I knew a man, whether he was of sound mind or not, I don't know but as I observed his life unfold before me I began to realize the truth of God's words concerning those he foreknew or those who would eventually accept His call on their lives. This young man when he reached the age of eighteen years old and was a graduate of a traditional high school in his country, applied for jobs in both the constabulary force and defence force in his country (police and army) several times and was turned away everytime. At one point he was told by the recruiting officer who seemed to be a Christian, "Maybe this is not your destiny. I've seen young men come through these training and within the first month on the job their lives are snuffed out. Maybe someone knows you may just become like one of those young men and is keeping you from this demise." Those words hit home with this young man.
He was about twenty-two years old by then.
Well this young man gave up on this aspiration and turned his attention overseas. He started traveling regularly from the age of twenty-two to the age of twenty four. At twenty-five, being back in his own country and taking a job as a high school teacher, teaching Engineering Science and Remedial English, he discovered that because of the friends he made while traveling abroad and the lifestyle they lived, he became the subject of an investigation which was international.
This ongoing investigation has lasted over twenty-one years and during this time, this young man had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He has grown spiritually to the point that he is now a colonel in the Lord's army (Spiritually speaking; this I consider to be the equivalent of an ordained minister in the church, the body of Christ). Without all that God suffered this young man to go through during this investigation, I believe this young man would never have gotten to where he is today and where he will be "tomorrow".
God kept this young man from entering any police force or armed forces because this young man may have died suddenly in the line of duty and would have been forgotten, never fulfilling his destiny. Then he allowed him to become a part of an investigation where he was enlightened, grew and matured into the person he now is and promoted time and again until he reached the position mentioned above, in God's kingdom. Had God not suffered this young man to become a part of this investigation, I believe this young man would never had made some wise choices to give God his full attention and abandon some habits and traits that would have him "bust" hells gate wide open when he got thrusted through it. Thank You Lord. You knew the life each individual who would eventually answer Your call would lead, and You planned for each individual's life accordingly. This young man whom I know You care about tremendously just as You do all your children, has been kept securely over the years and you will lead him home when the time is right. Whom you foreknew, you truly predestined to be conformed to the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. You who began a good work in all of us Your children, is faithful to complete it.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your "foolproof" plan for each and everyone of us Your children. You never fail.
Encouragement: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths -Prov. 3:5-6.
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