In the Book of Revelation, in Chapter 14, verse 17, we find this interesting statement from God Himself: “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

The Lord is clearly spelling out here the three aspects of His elect which are of first and foremost importance to Him:

1) Being called by God.
2) Being chosen by God.
3) Being found faithful by God.

Being chosen by God is only part. We also need to be found faithful and it is not only in our works where we need to be found faithful; it is more fundamental than that. In Isaiah 48:10 God makes it very plain as He tells us “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.”

We are to be tested and found faithful, by and in whatever tests which the Lord decides are appropriate for us. Our attitudes during our testing, our attitudes during our times in the desert and in the wilderness, will determine if we are chosen, on not. As all the great names of the Old Testament were tested, so shall we. The furnaces of affliction are God’s choosing grounds.

But all our testing and preparation in the deserts and wilderness’ amounts to nothing if at the end, we do not experience the next step: being chosen and being commissioned by God.

Heavenly Father,
You are the King of King’s and I humble myself before You as I acknowledge Your awesome Majesty. I pray, Lord, that You will renew me from the inside out for Your use: such that during the furnaces of affliction in this life I shall not be found wanting. I pray, Lord, that You will replace my heart of stone with a heart which beats for You and You alone. Change my attitude Lord, that I am focussed on You day and night, for I lay down my will before You, my Lord and God. Please renew me that I may become more Christ-like and acceptable to you, in every way.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen and Amen.