Misuse of Election
by Grattan Guinness
"Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place." - Isaiah 28:17
From the time of Adam down to the present day, thousands have taken refuge from the threatening of God's wrath by cleaving to the lies of the Evil One. Tonight I want to expose some of these lest death should come upon you unawares and your souls perish in hell.
First, let me ask you, Are your sins forgiven? There are many of you who know your sins are not forgiven. Are you prepared to die? There are many of you who would have to say, "I could not lie down tonight and die in peace." Now let me ask, Then why are you listening to me? You say, "To learn the way to be saved." My answer is, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." "But," you say, "I believe in election." Well, what has that to do with it? I said believe in Jesus. You answer, "It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy."
Tell me what you mean in your heart by quoting that text. "Well," you say, "if I am elect I shall be saved, do what I may. But if I am not elect I must be damned, do what I will. Thus there is no use in my trying to do anything." Let me tell you earnestly that this is a "refuge of lies." Now do not mistake me. I do not wage war with the doctrine of election but simply with your manner of holding it. I believe the doctrine of election runs like a golden thread through the silver tissue of the Word of God, and it is impossible to tear it out without rending asunder the very texture of everlasting truth. It is no dark doctrine to me, but shines as the first sweet ray of light that came down from God into the black abyss of our ruin.
Election is not iron fate but unutterable love. I accept it, and I cannot but do so for it is as plainly revealed to me in the Bible as the doctrine of redemption. First, I cannot but see that God is everything in the salvation of all those who reach heaven. Second, I cannot but see that He intended this from all eternity. This is, of course, election. From the eighth chapter of Romans I learn that election is the first link in the great chain of salvation reaching from heaven to earth, and that if you break that link all the rest fall to the ground. No Election? Then there is no calling, no justification, no sanctification, and no glory.
My friends, do not distort this doctrine to your own damnation. Look into the matter and you will find that election is not exclusive but inclusive! In plain English, election shuts no one out while it shuts many in. Scripture represents election as making the salvation of many certain, but it does not represent it as putting an impossible barrier in the way of anyone. Election has made many saints, but it has made no reprobates. Election only saves. Only sin destroys.
But even if election were as you say, you still have no right to sit still in indecision. Do you act that way in everyday things? Let us take, for example, a friend inviting you to dinner. The table is spread and you are asked to sit down to eat. "Stop!" you say to your friend. "Does not God know everything?" "Yes," says your friend. "Well, then God knows whether I shall eat this food or not. It's all fixed and I can't alter it. So if I am not to eat this dinner, I cannot eat it even though I were to try. But if I am to eat it, I must eat it even though I were to rise and leave the room. Therefore, I will sit still and do nothing." Would you reason thus? Surely not. Then why, when God lays before you the "Bread of Life" and freely offers the Lord Jesus Christ to feed your perishing soul, would you say, "If I am to eat of the Bread of Life I must, do what I may. If I am not to partake of it I cannot, do what I will. Therefore, I will sit still and do nothing."
Suppose you were sick and near death. The doctor offers you medicine that will undoubtedly cure you. Would you say, "If I am to live I shall live, and if I am to die your medicine will make no difference. So take it away and leave me." Ah, no! Why then, when the good physician Jesus offers the only medicine that can cure your soul's disease and save you from eternal death, would you say, "If I am elect I shall be saved, do what I may; and if I am not elect I shall be damned, do what I will. Therefore I will do nothing."
Now, if Christ does not truly offer to save you, then there is nothing more for me to say. But you admit that He does offer to save you! And if your refusal to come to him for salvation does not lead to hell, then again I can add nothing. But you admit that to die in your present state is to be damned! Then why do you linger and do nothing? Forsake this folly and escape to Jesus, for most surely "the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow your hiding-place" (Isa. 28:17).
