God's calling is a profound and personal act initiated by the Father Himself. It is impossible to become a Christian through one's own efforts or actions; no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws them. The Father seeks individuals, offers them grace, and reveals the truth, taking the initiative in establishing a relationship. This calling is not a result of human seeking, but of His sovereign choice and purpose, planned before time began. He chooses ordinary people, often from the middle or lower strata of society, to demonstrate His glory and power in transforming them into glorious children from the dust of the ground. The calling of God is distinct in its usage across scripture. In the Gospels, Christ uses "call" to signify a general invitation or summons to draw near and hear God's truth, broadcast widely like a message on radio or television, available to many through various means such as the Bible or the church's outreach. However, only a few are chosen by the Father to truly understand and enter into a relationship with Him and His Son, forming a little flock of firstfruits. In contrast, the apostle Paul uses "called" to refer to God's elect, those specifically chosen for salvation, encompassing the entire process from calling to glorification. This process includes steps of justification and sanctification, requiring cooperation from the individual, with God confident in His ability to bring the called to glory. God's calling involves overcoming human nature and the influences of this world and satan. He opens the hearts of those He calls, enabling them to hear and understand the truth, as seen in the instantaneous transformation of Paul and the gentle awakening of Lydia. Through His Spirit, working initially with the person and later within them after conversion, He guides them toward truth, glorifies Christ, and reveals insights into His plan. This calling instills a willing mind, a desire to complete the process and embrace the eternal inheritance promised, far surpassing any temporary gain offered by the ways of satan. This rare and precious opportunity through God's calling must not be squandered. Unlike lottery winners who often face ruin through poor choices, those called by God are urged to make the most of their holy calling, embracing the magnificent inheritance as co-heirs with Christ.

God has called us and chosen us out of billions on this planet, granting us His Holy Spirit, repentance, forgiveness, and revealing His truth and life through His Son. He has established a relationship with us, supplied grace, love, and faith, and entered into a covenant with us. However, if we do not reciprocate with action on our part, our calling and election will not remain certain, and we risk falling away. As Peter warns in II Peter 1:10-11, we must be diligent to make our calling and election sure, for if we fail to do so, we will stumble, and an entrance into the Kingdom of God will not be supplied to us. Peter's urgency in this command stems from the presence of false teachers and destructive doctrines within the church, which threaten to lead believers astray. He writes to all true Christians, emphasizing the need to validate their calling and election to avoid deception and apostasy. The atmosphere of the first-century church, marked by false teachings and impending apostasy, mirrors challenges faced in recent times, underscoring the timeless relevance of his warning. Peter, aware of his impending death, felt compelled to stir up the church, reminding them of truths they already knew to motivate them into action and ensure they remain steadfast. Making our calling and election sure involves validating it through bearing fruit, as Jesus teaches in John 15. By producing much fruit—demonstrating good works, growth, love for the brethren, service, and a deepening relationship with God—we confirm that our calling and election remain firmly in force. If we do not bear fruit, we risk being cut off, as Christ warns that dead wood is removed. Peter assumes believers are connected to the vine but urges them to maintain their abiding in Christ to avoid stumbling and losing their place in the Kingdom. Additionally, making our calling and election sure requires both the removal of sin and the pursuit of growth in holy conduct and godliness. Peter highlights the coming judgment, urging believers to live in a manner worthy of God's standard to avoid fiery indignation. Growth in grace and knowledge keeps us balanced, enabling us to discern and reject error. God is faithful and longsuffering, desiring that none should perish, but we must remain steadfast, continuing in the faith and diligently seeking Him to ensure deception cannot touch us. Peter advises adding to our faith diligently, growing in all areas to partake in the divine nature. Failing to do so risks rendering the blood of Christ of no account and forgetting what has been done for us, potentially leading to rejection. As Paul echoes in Colossians 1:23, we must continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, with the hope of resurrection and eternal life before us. God earnestly desires to present us holy and blameless before His Father, but we must play our part. Therefore, let us heed Peter's admonition with urgency, diligently making our calling and election sure to gain a triumphant entrance into the Kingdom of God.