John 15:1-4
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
John 15:16
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
In the little English I know, the word "Chosen" is the past participle of "Choose"; hence to get the meaning of "Chosen", we would need to know the meaning of "Choose". "Choose" simply means to pick out something or someone from a variety of alternative presented, usually two or more alternatives. Whenever you hear "The Chosen", it usually sends the message of being special to the one that is being referred to, and that is a good feeling. But the truth is that there is a price to pay for being chosen, and that price involves some pains...the pains of being chosen.
When there is an auditioning to get the characters of a film or a play, and few people eventually get chosen out of the multitude that came, there is joy in the hearts of the ones chosen for the different roles they've been chosen for. They would jump, hug, sometimes, tears of joy rolled down their cheeks. And they would be on their way to becoming celebrities. But that was just the beginning of their quest. Sooner than later, they would get to into the real business, and be taken to different locations, and the reality of being 'Chosen' would dawn on them. Sometimes, they could face hardship having their location in remote areas at odd times…even in the forest. Sometimes, the stress of the work could make them to feel like crying. Sometimes, the demands of the job could place a strain on their relationships with their loved ones. But by the time by the time the movie is out and in becomes a box-office success...wow! What joy! Many open doors for him or her in places that he or she would not have been attended to once upon a time. But it wasn’t a smooth journey
That is the plight of the chosen. It comes with some challenges, but it pays off at the long run. And if you are not aware of this as the chosen, you might be thinking wrongly that the whole world is against you, or that GOD has forgotten you. That was why GOD, through Apostle Peter said...
That was why Apostle Paul said ...
2 Corinthians 4:17
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"
When I gained admission into University, wow! I was so excited. I was just jumping on my bed, allowing the spring underneath to take me up and down in rejoicing, in my room that day. I didn't even feel like eating anything that day, and to cut the long story short, I entered the the school. When the first semester ended, and the results were out, it was disastrous. I remember when I went to check my Chemistry 101 result. It was a long queue, and the lecturer would ask for your department and number...he checked the result on his list, and would tell you. People were coming out of the office with different expressions, but mostly sad expression. When it was my turn, I went in. He said "What is your Department?". I said "Architecture". He then said, "And your number?". I said "901431". He said "F". I said "901431 Sir.". He said "Are you deaf? I said "F" Get out!". I didn't believe my ears, and I started smiling. I don't know why I was smiling.. Probably because of the man's reaction as if a bulldog bit him.(It's not you that got "F", it's someone else, and you started barking. What's your problem?). Or maybe because I was not expecting the "F". There is an adage in Yoruba that when a matter goes beyond crying, it is laughter that is left to be done. When I came out of the office with that smile, I heard some students saying to themselves, "This guy don scatter the exam well-well. See as he dey smile.". (If only they knew). Prior to that time, I had planned to go and watch a film that night, but I changed my mind. I cancelled that plan. I saw myself in my mind that I was being rusticated, so I got more serious with my studies, even with difficult times. The reality of being chosen for admission dawn on me that it is another higher level of responsibility and commitment
The hospitals chosen as the best would attract the worst medical cases. Yes, that is the plight of being chosen
Rebekah's experience as the first woman in history to bring forth a set of twins. She got to a time that she became confused with her condition, and she went to ask GOD...
Genesis 25:22-24
"And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb."
Prior to that time, there was no record of anyone bringing forth more than one baby at birth, and Rebekah was chosen by GOD to break the record, but not without a price of some level of discomfort. That was why the discomfort she was feeling beyond other women she had heard and seen being pregnant made her to wonder what was wrong with her; and this led her to enquire of GOD. And GOD told her that it was because greater blessings had been deposited in her. That is the plight of being chosen.
GOD called Apostle Paul, "the chosen", when talking to Ananias ...but also added that there would be some "sufferings"
Acts 9:15-16
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."
Joseph was chosen by GOD through his father who gave him the coat of many colours as a symbol of that choice... Joseph was happy because of his gift, but with the gift, he suffered betrayal, humiliation, injustice, imprisonment and abandonment. Are you gifted too? Oh, you are good-looking...you are eloquent,...you are intelligent...you are anointed...and much more. Congratulations! You are a chosen! But I guess you must be wondering like Rebekah did..."If I am the chosen because of this obvious gift, why am I experiencing this frustration?". Well, to answer that question of yours, it is a plight of the chosen to suffer for a while, then be glorified with the glory that far outweighs the sufferings.
1 Peter 5:9-10
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
Joseph himself said GOD sent him for the training …
Genesis 45:5
"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."
Joseph was taken through pruning session, which was painful sessions, but at the end of the day, his words became law, and there was nothing he desired that he could not get.
Job was chosen as a specimen for a divine experiment (Job 1:8-12). Job suffered many things that he and the people around him could not explain. They were just assuming that probably he did something wrong for all that befell him to have befallen him; but we were being made to know earlier on, that he was chosen as a specimen for divine experiment. But when he passed the test, enduring the hardship and holding on to GOD through it all, he got the kind of blessings that surpassed that of his former, and anyone living that his days.
When I remember the assassination of a former Head of States of Nigeria, Late General Murtala Muhammed, on 13th February, 1976 on his way to work by some renegade soldiers led by Lt.-Col. Bukar Sukar Dimkaa, I can't help but see it as the plight of being chosen. Not particularly of the assassinated Head of States, but of his vehicle. The car Murtala Muhammed was killed in must have been chosen among others Mercedes Benz 230.6 cars produced at the time. At that time, if one could heard the voices of cars, you would hear the chosen car saying "I am special to be chosen to drive the number one man in Nigeria!". And also, other cars would have been feeling a bit jealous. But on that day, when General Murtala was ambushed, and the car sprayed with bullets, the car would have been saying, "O my GOD, why I'm I being attacked? My windscreen is being riddled with bullets.". After the death of the Head of State, the messed-up car was left for a while. And in that period, the car would be saying, "Oh, what life is this? Just when I thought I was special, I am now being attacked and left abandoned.". It was a dark time for that car. And at that time, other cars of its type would drive pass, and be saying "Sorry o! Sebi you thought you were special, let's see that specially now!" (mocking)
That was what they told JOSEPH ...
Genesis 37:18-20
"And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
That was what they told JESUS too...
Luke 23:37-38
"And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself."
The bullet-ridden car would have thought GOD had abandoned it for all these things to be happening to it...
Isaiah 49:14-15
"But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
Then something happened. The bullet riddled car was taken to a place that had been prepared for it. On the way, the car would have thought it was the end...probably going to be executed, dismantled, and sold as scraps. But it was taken to the National Museum, at Onikan in Lagos alongside with other historical national antiques. All of a sudden, they started cleaning it up, set it up in a place people can come and see it from all over the world! And the car had continued to attract tourists, especially on days shortly before and after the yearly memorial, recording up to 3,000 tourist visiting the car, but about 2,000 at off-peak periods. Michelin Tyre Company Ltd had assisted in replacing the tyres of the car from time to time. and the museum officials clean the car daily to preserve it for posterity,”. The scar of the car turned it to a star! How many cars of that model would you see being adore in this age?
Joseph himself said GOD sent him for the training …
Genesis 45:5
"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."
Through JESUS' crucifixion, HE was glorified above all...
Philippians 2:8-9
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"
