Why did God choose me?

[Defender of Christ]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

[calidog]

I don't know but I'm glad He chose me too.

[Semi-tortured]

I personally think He calls everyone in some way, shape or form in their lives, but few answer the call. You obviously hadn't gotten to the point where you had fooled yourself into thinking the life you chose for yourself was the right path.

[9Marksfan]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

Because, as with Paul, it pleased God to reveal Himself in you. He intends to show how glorious His grace is in transforming such an angry rebellious sinner into a faithful saint in Christ! :)

[Ta-An]

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?Maybe because He knew you would accept Him :)

[Revinius]

Sometimes those who are most zealously against Him, become the most zealously for Him - It's a massive illustration of the power of Grace...

[Whispering Grace]

Sometimes those who are most zealously against Him, become the most zealously for Him - It's a massive illustration of the power of Grace...

Amen, Amen, Amen!

“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Luke 7:41-43




Praise God for your wonderful testimony, Defender of Christ!

[apothanein kerdos]

Because, as with Paul, it pleased God to reveal Himself in you. He intends to show how glorious His grace is in transforming such an angry rebellious sinner into a faithful saint in Christ! :)

This is an excellent response. God has shown Himself to you to display His love and glory.

[Joe King]

Simply because he loves you and he knew you would love him too.

[turtledove]

Indeed, why you? Why me? Why anyone of us here?

Why did he chose Saul..an obvious persecutor of the Followers of the Way (who had been in charge of the stoning of Stephen) to become the great Paul, missionary Apostle to the Gentiles. And so dramatically too?

He saw something in Paul he wanted to use and so entered into His dark world and called him out of it.

Why did that preacher come down at a Youth for Christ rally when I was 17 and far from God and say to me, "Things aren't right with you and the Lord, are they?" ---shattering my obstinacy and wall of youthful rebellion before I said, "Yes" to Jesus.

And why did Jesus call those fishermen and tax collectors and a busy physician out of their routines to "follow" Him?

The apostles didn't chose Him..He chose them. But they did chose to say "Yes"...I will follow. And that is what we have done..we have said "Yes" and by His mercy and grace we continue the "Yes" every day of our lives. .. as we learn to grow in the knowledge of God through the Word, love Him with our whole hearts, and seek to serve Him and others. For His Glory and for His Kingdom here and forever in heaven.

peace and blessings

[RoadWarrior]

You ask a great question! We can find the answer by studying the Bible.

God chose the Jews because He loved them:

Dt 7:7-8
7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
NKJV

He calls us for the same reason. He loves us. But we see that we do have to respond to Him.

Mk 10:21-22
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. NKJV

We don't know if the rich young ruler ever changed his mind and responded in obedience to Jesus.

What we can know, is that Jesus called us in His love for us. We can rejoice because we didn't consider our possessions or addictions more precious than following Him.

:hug:

Welcome to the discipleship of Jesus!

[Sold Out]

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

There are some that will God deliver immediately from bad earthly habits.....just count yourself lucky! It sounds as though He has a greater purpose for you.

[ilovemetal]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

guy. this is, exactly like me. i love(ed) death metal, and black (satanic) metal too. i ditched tones of goodies, well, not that good....lots of negitive metal i guess.

thing is, i feel that God used that time in your life, even when you are angry at Him to build your character into who you are today. for me, i had to figure alot out to become who i am now, and if it wasn't for things like listeing to super evil metal, or smoking some weed, i wouldn't have known what Love God can give. there's so much more positive things, better-for-you things, and i know you can feel it, like me, a lighter feeling, like you've been set free.

so i think God had it in His plan all along, He was just waiting for you to get to the right point. maybe if it had of been sooner you wouldn't have know this or that, known not to do this or that etc.

even though i was raised in a christian home i did alot of mild rebelling, and for a while got into the whole 'black metal' mentality, the lavayan satanism sort of mind set, and it was dark times, but now, i can compair my 'light' times (now) to them, and realize who much better off i am knowing Christ. He really did come back into my life at just the right time, His 'chosen' time if you will, and it's been rad since then. (about since march i re-dedicated my life to God)

so, anyways, i'm stolked for you man. hope your still into some metal, check out this band, rad to the max. http://www.myspace.com/withbloodcomescleansing

peace buddy

[crossnote]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

Why did He chose such undeserving God haters as us? Well one thing we know. It wasn't our good looks, nor our salesman smile. It wasn't even a wink or a sympathetic tilt of the head. Nor was there any good he saw in us to move Him to say "AH!!! Now that's someone I can use."
He chose us before the foundation of the world was laid and it was nothing to do with us, in us, or by us. We ought to be thankful though that He did rescue us from an otherwise horrible fate.
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
(Eph 1:4)

[graceforme]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?


YOU chose God. Your heart was ready for change. God simply answered YOUR heart's call and came in and saved you. God does not change any heart that does not desire change. When we seek to fill that void that we have, He is always faithful to answer our cry.

Many blessings to you. Keep looking up. You can never go wrong with God.

[9Marksfan]

YOU chose God.

You can't get away from the fact that God chooses us first - THEN we choose Him.

Your heart was ready for change.

Who made his heart ready for change?

God simply answered YOUR heart's call and came in and saved you. God does not change any heart that does not desire change.

Do you have any Scripture for that? If his heart was so evil and rebellious for so long, how did it come to desire change? What happened?

When we seek to fill that void that we have, He is always faithful to answer our cry.

So you believe that WE seek God first, then HE responds? Scripture teaches that it's the other way round.

[Defender of Christ]

guy. this is, exactly like me. i love(ed) death metal, and black (satanic) metal too. i ditched tones of goodies, well, not that good....lots of negitive metal i guess.

thing is, i feel that God used that time in your life, even when you are angry at Him to build your character into who you are today. for me, i had to figure alot out to become who i am now, and if it wasn't for things like listeing to super evil metal, or smoking some weed, i wouldn't have known what Love God can give. there's so much more positive things, better-for-you things, and i know you can feel it, like me, a lighter feeling, like you've been set free.

so i think God had it in His plan all along, He was just waiting for you to get to the right point. maybe if it had of been sooner you wouldn't have know this or that, known not to do this or that etc.

even though i was raised in a christian home i did alot of mild rebelling, and for a while got into the whole 'black metal' mentality, the lavayan satanism sort of mind set, and it was dark times, but now, i can compair my 'light' times (now) to them, and realize who much better off i am knowing Christ. He really did come back into my life at just the right time, His 'chosen' time if you will, and it's been rad since then. (about since march i re-dedicated my life to God)

so, anyways, i'm stolked for you man. hope your still into some metal, check out this band, rad to the max. http://www.myspace.com/withbloodcomescleansing

peace buddy

I was in a dark morbid world living the lie that Satan was almighty. I cannot believe how music like Venom, Dark Funeral and Marduk can influence the human mind to become rebellious towards God, but luckily I broke free from the chains, and God opened my eyes. I don't listen to any metal anymore. I listen to worship music like, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Third day, Mercy Me, Robbie Seay Band, and Jeremy Camp. I will definitely check out that band on Myspace. I'm always looking for new Christian rock bands. You should check out Robbie Seay Band's new song called, "Song of Hope."

God Bless

[Revinius]

I agree with 9Marksfan that God is the great enabler in the evil hearts of man. It's only by Him and then through Him that we can have relationship with Him (and live the difference we do). For the original OP, it's only by Him anything can EVER happen in our hearts, so logic would deduce that that's who we should be going to for EVERYTHING in life.

God Bless :D

[Ta-An]

YOU chose God.Indeed so.... He died for us, and it is for us then to choose to accept Him through by coming to repentance :)

[graceforme]

[/color]

You can't get away from the fact that God chooses us first - THEN we choose Him.



Who made his heart ready for change?

[color=blue]

Do you have any Scripture for that? If his heart was so evil and rebellious for so long, how did it come to desire change? What happened?

[color=blue]

So you believe that WE seek God first, then HE responds? Scripture teaches that it's the other way round.


You are, of course, right. Maybe I wasn't clear in my wording. What I was saying is that WE make the choice - serve God or serve Satan. Of course, it is God's desire that ALL should turn to Christ and trust in Him. But WE MAKE an active choice who we will follow. God calls everyone, but no everyone makes the right choice - and it IS our choice to make. God will not change the heart of anyone who refuses the change.

I hope I'm doing better with my words this time.

God Bless.

[Revinius]

But... we were so depraved he opened us to the possibility of His Grace. He gave us a new heart before we could come to Him.

[crossnote]

God does not change any heart that does not desire change.

I guess no heart gets changed then.

...as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.", "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
(Rom 3:10-18)

[CFJ]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

Nice answers you've got from everybody, here is another answer, that could be helpful...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(Eph 1:3-10 KJV)
Your testimony sounds very similar to my own. I really did nothing to deserve His grace (For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. - Eph 2:8-9). He choose me and even give me the means and power to choose Him. When looking back, I cannot remember doing anything myself. Some people will testify choosing themselves in their own strength and ability, but I can only tell you what happened to me. He opened the door for me and I believe no one (not even myself) will or could close that door (Rev 3:7-8). We do have the ability to open the door ourselves, but the unfortunate question then remains, will one then be able to keep the door open?

[graceforme]

I guess no heart gets changed then.

...as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.", "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
(Rom 3:10-18)



Well, I guess I'm wrong no matter how I word it.

God Bless.

[MidnightsPaleGlow]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

This sounds almost exactly like me. Beginning in my mid-to-late teens, as a result of a traumatic bout of depression brought on by years of being bullied growing up, I developed an intense anger and hatred of humanity as a whole. My upbringing in the RCC gave me a skewed view of Christianity, especially their exclusivist claim (the "one true church," the "original Christian church"), and when I saw that they tortured/killed those who disagreed with the church, I saw Christendom as a whole as a violent system that I grew to despise with overwhelming venom, I got into all kinds of Satanic Death Metal and Black Metal, bands like Deicide, Bathory, Dissection, Morbid Angel, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Emperor, Vital Remains, Satyricon, Incantation, etc. Me and a friend of mine, taking cues from the Norwegian Black Metal Inner Circle, were actually going to go out and burn down as many churches as we possibly could because I burned with a deep-rooted hatred of Christianity. That is, until mid-fall 2007.

As a result of my longtime struggles with anxiety and depression, which still continue to this day, I developed this sudden, overwhelming sense of terror that something was going to happen to me and I was going to die, and I was terrified of divine judgment and wrath. About two weeks after this overwhelming sense of terror gripped me and refused to release itself, I logged on to an online evangelism site, viewed the plan of salvation, and accepted Christ as savior right there in the office room of my house. Over the course of the next few days I saw a gradual change in my lifestyle, I began using profanity less and less, and I completely lost my desire to listen to all those bands I liked that preached Satanic messages. But I still had this sense of fear, I was constantly thinking to myself, "how could God possibly forgive me for my rotten, blasphemous behavior and attitudes?" and suffered from feelings of overwhelming depravity, fearing that God couldn't/wouldn't save me, and that my "sinner's prayer" fell on deaf ears, I would re-pray it over and over and over, was in danger of returning to the RCC based on all the legalistic indoctrination that I had accumulated over the years that unfortunately, still had a foot-hold in my mind and then got misled by the baptismal regenerationists for a short time just because I suffered from such horrible doubt about whether I was saved or lost, the first few months of my Christian walk were scarred by horrible doubt and confusion, and I sank into what seemed like it would be an irretrievable bout of depression, I'm still recovering from it as of now.

All that has finally blown over, after studying the life of Paul and having matured a great deal in the word in such a short time, I saw that I behaved in a similar way, but, like Paul, obtained mercy because I was acting in ignorance. I also learned that what the RCC taught me growing up (more correctly "INDOCTRINATED ME WITH," their "original church" claim) was absolutely false and that the RCC has only existed as we now know it since the 3rd century AD beginning with Constantine. I also learned that the way I came to accept Christ was entirely the working of God, and that my feelings/fears that God couldn't/wouldn't save me were unjustified.

[Revinius]

Well, I guess I'm wrong no matter how I word it.

God Bless.

Heh, your close, but perspective is wrong. You need to recognise that we as human beings are so completely depraved in our sin that we cannot know God unless He provides us with a new heart in which to commune with Him. From there it's a two way street, we need to consciously give ourselves as He works within to renew us.

[tango]

Throughout most of my life, I was very angry with God, I listened to satanic death metal music, I used to praise the name of Satan through this music, and it was destroying my life. I was angry at the world, I was extremely rebellious, but BAM!! out of nowhere I trashed all of the evil music that was corrupting my mind, I said ENOUGH of this EVIL in my life!!.. and I became interested in the life of Jesus Christ, and I became headstrong in God.

I was angry with God and life between the ages of 14 and 32.

What happened? Why did God call upon me to become such a faithful believer?

Perhaps God has a specific role in mind for you.

Like you, I walked away from God; I turned to the occult, death metal, the works. Then after many years God started the process that brought me back again. It seems God has some role in mind for me, although exactly what it is I don't yet know.

Sometimes a 180-degree turn just happens, it's as if God decides we've had enough rope and now it's time to haul us back in. As the words of a song say, "where darkness has been darkest, the brightest light will shine".

[9Marksfan]

Perhaps God has a specific role in mind for you.

Like you, I walked away from God; I turned to the occult, death metal, the works. Then after many years God started the process that brought me back again. It seems God has some role in mind for me, although exactly what it is I don't yet know.

Sometimes a 180-degree turn just happens, it's as if God decides we've had enough rope and now it's time to haul us back in. As the words of a song say, "where darkness has been darkest, the brightest light will shine".

"...His invitation comes to you, it's yours and it is mine!"

MAN, you're showing your age! They sang that the night I was saved (30th May, 1982)!!!!!

[tango]

Ooops, I remember it from about 1989.... didn't realise it went back even further!