Why?  The other night in our men’s Bible Study,  here in our senior community, we were discussing just some of the the long list of things that have come to you and I who are in Christ as opposed to those, who are willing to walk away.  The two stand out examples of being called, but not chosen in the end, as they are brought to us in Scripture, are maybe the hardest for us to deal with. They are found in personages of King Saul and in the disciple Judas Iscariot. 

Both men were called for a leadership position by God, knowing only by God that they would fail.  Only God, Who knows all before it ever happens, nevertheless did bring these individuals into His congregation.  But why? I believe that He did it in order to make clear the dangers of disobedience to our calling. 

We all now know the choices that Judas made, which allowed him to be led by Satan for his proposes. All of the men around the Christ were chosen sinners, but, Judas’ sin was not just a questioning of the whys surrounding Jesus ministry, but a rejection of the purpose for it. It was not that others were not also tempted in the same direction. For Peter when he heard Jesus speak of His coming death also wanted to reject that thought.  And Jesus strongly rebuked him: “get thee behind me Satan”.  The difference in “motives” were then revealed.  Although, maybe not as obvious as we might like.  Peter was in the end willing to accept Christ’s purpose for coming, for walking the earth, while Judas never did.  Both men had their sinful selves openly revealed, while only one of these two questioners returned to trust in the mission of Jesus as presented in a true repentance. This leads us to the question: could Judas have done differently and been forgiven as was Peter?  If we say that he could not have repented rather than taking his own life; then we must deny man’s free will in choosing to follow God’s calling.  Oh he followed his will, and it likely is true that at some point it was a captured will. 

Yes, our Father knew the actions that Judas would take; because He God is all knowing.  

Yes, God created the tree of good and evil, knowing that Adam would sin. The eating of that tree opened up to humankind, a different choice concerning sin.  Evil only became a reality within man’s choices when evil was chosen to be placed upon the menu of man’s free will choices. 

Now considering Saul, he was called even as was David.  Saul was anointed by Samuel as was David. Saul was given a new heart and God’s Spirit as was David. Saul prophesied as did David. Saul sinned as did David, but Saul did not repent as did David.  Instead he attempted to justify his actions never admitting that he was wrong in any way.  

David, may have understood first hand that Saul’s most devastating, reaction to God’s rebuke was to his own-self.  For David saw the evil Spirit come to Saul and torment him, because he had lost his ability to prophecy.  He had lost the Holy Spirits indwelling. He had lost wisdom. Thus David when he prayed over his own sin  did also plead with his Father to not take His Holy Spirit from him. 

Abiding in Christ, walking in His imputed to us righteousness is the only way to not fall.