If God has determined before the foundation of the world the precise number of those who shall be saved then why should we concern ourselves about the eternal destiny of those with whom we come into contact? What place is left for zeal in Christian service? Will not the doctrine of God's Sovereignty, and its corollary of predestination, discourage the Lord's servants from faithfulness in evangelism? No; instead of discouraging His servants a recognition of God's Sovereignty is most encouraging
to them. Here is one, for example, who is called upon to do the work of
an evangelist, and he goes forth believing in the freedom of the will
and in the sinner's own ability to come to Christ. He preaches the
Gospel as faithfully and zealously as he knows how; but he finds the
vast majority of his hearers are utterly indifferent and have no heart
at all for Christ. He discovers that men are, for the most part,
thoroughly wrapped up in the things of the world, and that few have any
concern about the world to come. He beseeches men to be reconciled to
God and pleads with them over their soul's salvation. But it is of no
avail. He becomes thoroughly disheartened and asks himself, What is the
use of it all? Shall he quit, or had he better change his mission and
message? If men will not respond to the Gospel, had he not better engage
in that which is more popular and acceptable to the world? Why not
occupy himself with humanitarian efforts, with social uplift work, with
the purity campaign? Alas! that so many men who once preached the Gospel
are now engaged in these activities instead.
... Ah, fellow-Christian-worker, God has not sent us forth to "draw a bow at
a venture." The success of the ministry which He has committed into our
hands is not left contingent on the fickleness of the wills in those to
whom we preach. How gloriously encouraging, how soul-sustaining the
assurance are those words of our Lord's if we rest on them in simple
faith: "And other sheep I have ("have" mark you, not "will
have"; "have" because given to Him by the Father before the foundation
of the world), which are not of this fold (i.e. the Jewish fold then
existing): them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice" (John 10:16). Not simply, "they ought to hear My voice," not simply "they may hear My voice," not "they will if they are willing." There is no "if," no uncertainty about it. "They shall hear My voice" is His own positive, unqualified, absolute promise. Here then is where faith is
to rest! Continue your quest, dear friend, after the "other sheep" of
Christ's. Be not discouraged because the "goats" heed not His voice as
you preach the Gospel. Be faithful, be scriptural, be persevering, and
Christ may use even you to be His mouthpiece in calling some of His lost
sheep unto Himself. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).
- A. W. Pink (The Sovereignty of God, Chapter 12: Conclusion)
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