I Corinthians 1: 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
This is assurance for everybody. There is not a one of us who was the saving type. You’ve heard people say they’re not the Christian type. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Everybody is a sinner. Some aren’t the type while others are. Nobody is the type. We were are-not’s. We are not the type to please the Lord. The only credit we can give for victory and success is the Lord. It’s all about him—the Lord! Any letdowns have been our fault. We are the ones who fail. Jesus never fails. Even though we are what we are God loves us. He saved us and has his hand on every believer. We’re not perfect, but as we trust Jesus we find forgiveness.
We are called and chosen. Verse 26 says for ye see your calling. Keep the calling in your vision. There’s nothing special about us. It’s not the Father’s desire that any perish. He knows the misery that sin brings about. The Lord called our name. We still need him. Without Jesus we are are-not’s.
Verse 27 says God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. Foolish to confound the wise. Weak to confound the mighty. Man is base. These are truths that accurately describe us without a Savior. We think we’re wise in our own eyes. The Lord worked on me. I thought I knew so much. This current time is no different than years ago. One reason Adam and Eve ate the fruit was because they were told it would make them as gods. The truth is that without Jesus we know nothing. We need to rely on the wisdom of God. If it takes emptying myself, then that’s fine. I may appear foolish for following Jesus, but I’d rather be a fool for Jesus than to receive the honor of the world. I just want the Lord to be pleased with me.
We may seem weak. Society would have us think so. It’s not a waste of time to serve Jesus Christ. In our flesh we are weak; we are foolish. We know the Lord in his power, and it’s not by our might but by his. God said my strength is made perfect in your weakness. I don’t need to flex my muscles. I just need to know Jesus. I need to know about prayer and the Bible and coming to church and live life trusting and following Jesus. Be glad to be weak in yourself. Don’t be intimidated by the world. Remember greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
If you buy a car, you can buy one with a lot of extras that cost a lot of money. That same car has a base model that doesn’t cost near as much. The world may look down on a baser model. They may look down on us as Christians. I’d rather be a cave man for the Lord than a scholar for the devil. Our citizenship is not of this world; it’s in heaven. We’re chosen to be God’s foolish, weak, and base in this world. Not somebody but an are-not. We must first deny ourselves. Are-not ourselves and put Jesus in our place. You may think you don’t need church or need to stick with the straight and narrow. You may think you’re doing well. No. You’re not! You must stick with Jesus. Be an are-not in the flesh, in the eyes of the world. It may not get you up the ladders of this world but it will get you up Jacob’s ladder to heaven.
Verse 30 says but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. What more could we ask for? To have this in Christ Jesus, to possess him cannot compare to the greatest accomplishment in this world. You may feel foolish and base. You may be left out by the world. Don’t listen to the devil. You’re called out of that unto his service. If he’s chosen us, he sees something savable, something forgivable. To think he wants me in his kingdom is a privilege. He sees something usable. I may look at a pile of wood and see kindling. A carpenter can make things. We’re in the hands of the carpenter, and if we’ll trust him and tune out the world, he’ll make something of us. Be happy you’re an are-not. To please Jesus is the objective.
God chose the foolishness of preaching, the foolishness of our testimony to save others. Do you see your calling? Do you sense the choosing? God can use us and make something of us when we realize we are an are-not.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 