... God addressed this in His word. Everyone that comes to God through Christ must recognized how they are saved, and that it is not just that they decided one day to be a completely different type of person...
John 6
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Romans 9
14 ¶ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
It is very common that people let this get to them, and I have heard a number of them say how angry they were at God for this. It was at that point they had to deal with God's sovereignty.
Just look at us. Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information, and religions destroy spirituality.
Dr. Michael Ellner
I have earthen vessels in my house that were made to be dishonored. They are dishonored regularly, and there is a use for them. It would be very unusual to dishonor a vessel made for honor. It will likely never happen that I would use a vessel made for dishonor for the purpose of the most honored vessels.
I am going to assume the same thing happens in your house as well. If you think there is something wrong with YOU deciding which vessels are fitted for dishonor, and using them that way, then you should explain the thinking that takes away your sovereignty in your own home. Which of the earthen vessels will complain to you of the job they must do? Which will have an argument that you will accept on the subject?
Our LORD said that we should STRIVE to enter in at the STRAIT GATE, for many will SEEK to, but not be able. What do we think it means to STRIVE?
Strive
verb
to struggle or exert oneself vigorously; to try hard.
to make strenuous, tenacious efforts toward a goal.
to contend in opposition; to battle; to compete.
Synonyms:
try, labor, toil, struggle, fight, contend, bear, contest, cope.
It is not an easy thing to turn from self and trust God. It is simple enough to say, and simple enough to understand, but doing it is not easy.
All your powers and faculties are so corrupt in your natural state that, except you be purged from dead works, you cannot serve the living God.
Joseph Alleine (1634-1668)
