My daughter and I recently had a conversation about the difficulties that we faced as children in school. Neither of us were very popular. So, we both had to deal with “mean girls”. You know, those girls who mock and ridicule until tears flow. And we have both known the heartache of being the last one picked for the team. Neither of us were the captain’s pick, despite the fact that we were both relatively fit and capable. They were the same issues that generations before us dealt with. And they are the same issues that kids will deal with for generations to come.
The irony is that we grow up and lots of times those kids who mocked us or who didn’t choose us for their club/team end up in worse places than we do in life. It’s actually pretty sad.
But praise God that he doesn’t choose His sons and daughters the way that we chose teams in school.
In school, the most popular or most athletic kids typically got to choose the teams. So, they chose the kids that they knew. They chose other kids like them. The chosen ones were the attractive, wealthy, charismatic, outgoing kids. So, the last one picked was always an underprivileged, less popular kid (like my daughter and I).
But getting into Heaven doesn’t work that way. And I am incredibly thankful.
Jesus was the Son of God. He was sinless, perfection. And He came to earth to save mankind from the penalty of their sin because we couldn’t pay it. We would all suffer eternal death if Jesus had not paid it for us. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
If we look at who Jesus spent time with and who He forgave, we would not find a group of His peers (there were none…no one else was sinless & perfect). We would not find the athletic and physically perfect. We would not find a group of wealthy dignitaries. Nor, would we find the popular people among those that Jesus gravitated toward. We would find sinners, the physically broken, criminals, and even His enemies.
He didn’t seek out and forgive the athletic and physically perfect. “And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven” Matthew 9:2.
He didn’t seek out the sinless… because there were none without sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.
He even reminded the scribes and Pharisees that they were sinners too. They brought an adulterous woman to Jesus. But Jesus didn’t judge and cast her out or stone her the way the law allowed. Instead, He reminded them that they were accusing this woman of sin and that they, themselves, were not sinless. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:3-7. Scribes and Pharisees were important men in the culture. But to Jesus, they were just sinners who needed a Savior.
Jesus forgave criminals. “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly. For we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43.
Jesus even forgave His enemies. “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” Luke 23:33-34.
We can see from the people that Jesus forgave and spent time with that He was looking for those whom others would not desire a relationship with. Those whom they would not pick for their team. Jesus spent time with — and forgave — those who would be the last ones picked!
We might think that Jesus will forgive all the people who were the last ones chosen and that He will not forgive all the others. But that isn’t what scripture teaches us. It teaches us that Jesus came for all man kind. “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” 1 John 2:2.
God doesn’t judge by looks, abilities, status, or riches. God judges the heart.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.
In school, we may have been the last one picked. Business, life, and our families may also have picked us last. But, in Heaven, the last will be first and the first will be last. “And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. Behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”. And the God of all creation has chosen to provide us with a means by which we can have a relationship with Him. He chose us!
It doesn’t matter whether we are picked first or last. We just need to make sure we are on the team. We need to make sure that we meet the qualifications to be on the team. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5.
As followers of Christ, the apostle Paul even encourages us to confirm our faith and calling. “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,” 2 Peter 1:10.
Once we die, there will be no opportunities to repent or to amend our qualifications. Either we have repented and asked Jesus Christ to be Lord over our lives, or we haven’t and we have been Lord over our own lives. And that is the only requirement to be part of the team. So, let’s not worry about who others will choose. Or about whether we are the first or the last one picked. Let’s make sure we meet the qualifications to be on the team.
I’d rather be the last one picked to be in Heaven with my loving Heavenly Father than the first one picked to be anywhere else.
Father God, thank you for loving us. We thank you that your bring healing. We thank you that the world may choose us last, but the God of all creation loves and adores us! Thank you have a means by which we might be forgiven. We don’t deserve it Father. It is only through your great love, mercy and grace that it is even possible. And we praise you Father.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your example. And thank you for paying the penalty for our sin.
Holy Spirit, move on our hearts to help others to see you in us. Let them hear your voice when we speak and see your love when we reach out. Use us to help others meet the qualifications for the team. We love you and praise you and pray this in Jesus precious and Holy name.
If you know the hurt of being the last one chosen. And if you feel like that is the story of you life, please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). On that page you will find a prayer outlined. Please pray that prayer. Through this prayer God wants to forgive you, love you and heal those old wounds that come from being the last one chosen. The God of all creation wants a loving and personal relationship with you! Choose Him! Pray that prayer please!
Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you and answer any questions that you might have.
Luv Ya!
