The God of Heaven has always had a chosen people to carry out his divine purposes. History has shown that His chosen ones often misinterpret God's divine favor until they are overlooked. How do these cast off ones react when God chooses others who finally carry out his Divine plans?

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		To be selected to fill a great role is a naturally flattering experience. It fills the chosen one with a high sense of honor. Unfortunately, humanities greatest failures have occurred when those chosen to
fill high positions forget the reason why they were selected.

 Imagine a theatrical producer that comes across a script written by an obscure writer. As the producer reads it, he becomes greatly inspired! He realizes that what he has in his hand would surely create a great sensation and bring millions to the theater. But because both he and the writer are virtually unknown, he must recruit famous actors into his cause in order to draw the masses to this great event. To insure that everything goes smoothly, a period of time  is given to practice so there would be no embarrassing moments during the first public performance.

 It is early morning. The set has been constructed and all the performers begin to gather together to rehearse their lines. But where is the “Star” of the show? The director frantically makes calls to locate the missing actress only to find that she is still in her bed sleeping. The actress informs the producer that she does not start her work until mid-morning. Because she is so important, the director holds his peace and waits for her arrival. She finally arrives at mid-day and begins to practice with the other actors. But unlike her fellow players, she must read her lines from paper because she hasn’t practiced her part. “Don’t worry”, she says, “I always learn my lines”.

 This behavior is repeated until the day of dress rehearsal on opening night. As expected, the crowds await the coming of the famous Prima-Donna. And as she arrives, she is met by security guards at the back door of the stage.

 But Instead of protecting her from the crowds of annoying Paparazzi, the guards have now been directed to block her entrance to the dressing rooms. She has been informed that the lead part has been given to the dedicated understudy who learned the lines during her continuous absences. The producer knows that the Prima-Donna would never settle for a secondary position. She has been fired! The only way she will be able to see this performance is by purchasing a ticket and taking a seat just like an ordinary bystander. But this would be beneath her! With tears of humiliation and with a fit of rage, she storms away!

 For those who are aware of the Divine purposes they have been chosen to fulfill; take heed! While you were sleeping, the Divine producer hired a faithful understudy and she has diligently rehearsed your lines. If you neglect your high calling, the proclamation shall go forth, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30). If you humbly take your seat with the bystanders, you will feel a deep sense of repentance. While the crowds applaud the understudies perfectly timed performance, you will lament to the spectators, “This wonderful part could have been mine!”

 Unfortunately, history shows that humility on the part of the spiritually rejected is unlikely. Weeping shall be followed by gnashing of teeth. Jealous hatred fills the hearts of those spurned by Heaven. Their venomous anger directs itself towards the one who resumes the coveted place of honor.

 - The way of Esau - 

Esau and Jacob struggled for ascendancy over each other. God had revealed this fact to their mother before the children’s birth, declaring, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). Esau was born first and this entitled him to his father’s inheritance. But along with the inheritance came the responsibility

of spiritual leadership for the tribe. But Esau took his Holy calling lightly and traded the responsibility to his younger brother. Esau sought only the temporal provisions of the birthright.

 Years later, when the time had arrived for him to acquire the temporal riches of his father, Esau was close at hand. But to his surprise, the blessing had been passed-over to his brother Jacob! “When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me-me too, my father" (Genesis 27:38)! But it was too late now for Esau to assume that place of holy leadership. The birthright was to be given only once through the Spirit of God. Now all his father could bestow upon his foolish son were these following words; "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother" (Genesis 27:39-40).  Esau’s bitter tears of humiliation soon turned to hatred as he declared, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob" (Genesis 27:41)!

- The way of Cain - 

 Under the pretense of peace and non-violence, Cain had sought to change the very core of the established worship of God. Cain thought to “take away” the sacrificial lamb and replace it with an offering of praise and thanksgiving.

 Like Esau, Cain was to become the future leader of the human family by virtue of the birthright. Like Esau, Cain fixed his eyes upon the earthly blessings that Heaven  provided. Like Esau, Cain’s interest to receive the blessing appeared to be genuine. But God knew that Cain’s unholy example would have turned the family of God away from knowledge of the Lamb of God who was yet to come. In Heavens eyes, Cain’s sacrifice was offensive! Cain was humiliated as the Holy fire passed-over his offering and consumed instead, the acceptable sacrifice offered by his brother. Then the disguise of Cain’s “peaceful religion” was torn away. Cain’s weeping turned into gnashing of teeth. He murdered Abel and hid his body in the earth.

- The way of the Jews - 

 For generations the Jewish people had suffered under the harsh rule of the Roman empire. In an effort to regain their national independence, the Jewish leaders went the way of Cain. They thought to “take away” the common peoples understanding of the coming Lamb of God. In its place, they promoted the view of an earthly deliverer. One who would come and punish Rome according to the ways they had been punished. This view degraded their hearts and caused them to become as cruel as their enemies. Like the self absorbed Prima-Donna, the Jewish leaders were not careful to study their heavenly assignment in the script of redemption. Sadly, on the day of Passover, they roused up the people to choose Barabbas (whose name means son of the father) instead of Jesus Christ - The Son of God.

 Those leaders proved themselves unfit to occupy the high position of spiritual leadership. The place was given to the humble and teachable disciples of Christ. When the fire of God came from heaven and enveloped those who held up the Lamb of God, those holding to their earthly views were passed-over. Instead of taking a seat and listening to that unstoppable Divine performance, they sought to end to the movement by the aid from those they despised - Romans!

 - The Laodicean way - 

 So it shall be in the final act of this earthly drama. Those who have been called to the highest purposes of heaven will be passed-over. They shall join hands with the Roman power to stop those who they cannot possibly stop, “They shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” (Daniel 11:30-31).

And now friend, I ask you today, have you been sleeping?

Written by Tim Czapiewski