In February of 2007, I had arrived in Medellin, Colombia for two weeks to work with the Open Arms Foundation and in the homes they had built for the restoration of street children. 

For a week, the team and I went up to the Boys’ Home, which was close to the city of San Pedro, Colombia, to do some construction and meet the boys who lived there. 

I met this boy, Yilmar (far left), who had just arrived at the Boys Home.

He was kind, playful, considerate of others, and devoted to the home. Everything he did, he did with excitement and joy, if it was playing soccer or doing the daily chores each boy had. 

Immediately, we connected, even with the language barrier. Before I left, he told me, with his very little and broken up English, that his dream was to go to America. 

I immediately told him, “When you come to America, you can come to my house.” 

His face lit up, and so did mine. 

When I returned home, I knew I was to go back to Colombia, and I ended up going back 4 more times within the next 3 years. Each time I went back, Yilmar was there, and our friendship grew (along with his English speaking skills)

His dream of coming to America is well and alive, and this past week, he arrived at my home in West Virginia. 

I couldn’t have been more blessed to see his dream and our dream of him coming to my house, come alive. He’s one of the most dedicated and selfless people I’ve ever met; his heart is made of gold, and his life is filled with pure intent. 

I’m so excited about his bright future and to see where he goes in life. 

Go here to read an article in our local newspaper about Yilmar and his story of how he ended up on the streets, found the Open Arms Foundation, got to America, and what he is doing now. 

For years, I’ve been taught that only a select few will be chosen to be saved; that “all are called” to get saved, “but only a few are chosen.” Now, I know how false this is.
[Calvinist/Reformed]

I’ve also heard the notion, that we chose of our own “free” will to be saved. That anyone, if they can “get their minds” to the right place, that they can understand Christs sacrifice, and accept it, and that then, and only then, can they be saved (from eternal punishment in hell).
[Arminian]

Now, I know each of these cannot be true, for neither are supported by scripture.

For (1), we cannot conjure up in our own minds or hearts to believe, but only by the Spirit can we be convicted of our sins and be *given faith (John 6:44). And (2), for in the idea that God only selects a few chosen beings to be saved indicated God is partial (that he likes some people over others), which is false (Romans 2:11). If these ideas were true, God would be evil, and He most definitely is good.

So, what now?

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.”
James 1:18 

God is sovereign, and has chosen a few to be the “first-fruits” of His Kingdom. He has called all, but yes, a chosen few are brought to salvation here and now in order to bring His Kingdom to earth here and now. We can’t say we know who these are, and we can’t say those He doesn’t “chose” here and now are punished for not accepting Him here and now, for He loves them. But we can say He will, and has, chosen all to be reconciled to Himself; He has chosen all the be saved from death and our sin nature.

But, there is a second-fruit harvest — this “of ALL He created”. We are the first-fruits out of all creation that will enter the Kingdom and be brought into right relationship with God!

So yes, God is sovereign. And yes, we have a free will to choose how we are going to live our lives here and now. But, in the end, those “second-fruits” (the rest of all creation) will be harvested into the Kingdom of grace and love; all creation will be restored!

And this I believe with all my heart.

Let us have faith that these things stand true, and that God will have all to be reconciled to His love and life.