Called To Greatness
Christians must not be ashamed of the humble circumstances they find themselves in, compared to the so-called “great people” of the world. We were called, through a life of continual and progressive repentance and overcoming, to deification. Our primary goal in life is to be apotheosized in God’s Kingdom—to be elevated or exalted to divinity.
Usually the so-called “losers” or failures in this world have more time for God because they consider the higher purpose for which they were created—of unsurpassed significance compared to the superficial and transient goals people try to achieve in life. This is not to denigrate worldly pursuits, for these are important for the sake of making human lives productive. However they are not the “be all, end all” of existence. There is nothing we can bring to the grave with us except the character we have developed and the memories which will remain intact. Money, education, so-called major and minor achievements, are significant only insofar as they were used to improve human society, and not just for the vanity of self-importance. God is not a respecter of persons, for which reason He considers different kinds of good deeds of all human beings, regardless of whether or not they are true Christians, valuable in determining one’s eternal qualifications. After all, the potential of Jewish Christians is the potential of all human beings. It is tried and true logic that there are actually some individuals unaware of God’s truth who possess more admirable traits of character compared to certain so-called Christians in God’s church. It may even be paradoxical to assume it is precisely because of inherent weaknesses and sinful proclivities that God decided to call certain types of people into His church, placing in them the deep desire to change their nature to conform with God’s. Ultimately, the only standard of perfection is that which was achieved by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And not by any great saint in the Bible or even any such saint or martyr outside of God’s church.
One does not have to become a true Christian to experience horrible trials like physical torture, for example. Pain and hardship is part of the reality of the world we live in, which is the society created by the tenebrous Lord of Darkness. Not one is immune to suffering, be it self-inflicted or imposed upon by others.
What makes the perspective of Jewish Christians much valuable is the fact that they are even taught to be thankful for the sufferings God allows them to go through, because of the rich treasures of wisdom and spiritual growth and understanding it would bring forth.
Most true Christians are unlikely Christians. God decides to call those who have the potential to be part of the firstfruits, regardless of circumstances, because of their potential to be born into God’s Kingdom as a son or daughter of God, way ahead of their siblings. Not to possess an attitude of spiritual superiority, but for the divine purpose of being given an opportunity to help the rest of humanity achieve the exact same potential at the next resurrection. Even the Millennium, after all, is only an extremely brief period in time compared to the eternity which lies beyond for the great majority of human beings. We must have a deep desire to save as many human beings as possible, if not all, so that countless numbers of God beings will be born after going through so many labor pains in the vicissitudes of daily existence.
1 Corinthians 1:26-30 (ESV): “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (ESV): “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV): “For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Romans 8:18-23 (ESV): “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subject to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
1 Corinthians 15:21-23, 42-44 (ESV): “For as man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ…. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
1 Peter 1:3-7 (ESV): “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has called us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested geniuneness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:4, 10-11 (ESV): “By which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire…. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”