Chosen

These are my Chosen

Once upon a time, there lived in Arabia a man who was named Ben Yussef. He had a son, and he and his son were very rich people. Their wealth came from the fact that they bred and trained Arabian horses.

Now, everyone knows that Arabian horses are world famous for their speed, their beauty, and their sturdiness. Ben Yussef and his son trained these horses, and then sold them, however, each year they kept the very best for themselves. Ben Yussefs horses were in great demand, and he trained them very well because their livelihood depended upon it. He trained them so that each one would answer to his call. He would cry, “Kyama, Kyama!,” and there would be a thunder of hooves, and a swishing of manes and tails as the many horses galloped up to him, and stood pawing the ground around him as they tossed their beautiful, shiny heads.

One day, Ben Yussef called, “Kyama, Kyama!” and there was not a single horse that would answer his call. Ben turned to his son and said, “The time has come. The time has come for the sorting of the horses. The time has come for their testing.”

These horses, who had been given the very best that money could buy, were gradually cut off from their luxuries. Their bran and mash was cut down until it was barely enough to keep them alive. They were turned out of their stables into a dry, stubby field with hardly any pasture. Their gleaming coats were neglected and became dirty and ragged. They were not given enough water, and they became thin and wild looking. They no longer looked anything like the beautiful thorough breds they had once been.

After many months, Ben Yussef and several stable hands came and reigned up the horses. They were led into another field which had gates leading to yet another field. Beyond the gates, there was everything that the poor, starved horses had once been accustomed to every day. There were troughs filled with bran and hay. There was barrel after barrel filled with clear, sparkling water. There were lush green, thick pastures.

The horses whinnied and pulled against their reigns in their desire to get to this adjoining field. Finally, Ben Yussef called down to his son, who was guarding the gates, and said, “Open the gates!”

The way was clear. There was nothing to stop them now, and the horses began to gallop into the lush, green field which contained everything they had missed for so long. However, before they reached the coveted place, a great cry rang out, “Kyama, Kyama!” The horses pricked their ears. Some rushed straight on, and some stopped, looked back, and then continued galloping. Some stopped, turned, and ever so slowly, very slowly, walked back to where Ben Yussef was standing. He looked at them with pity in his eyes, but with pride in his voice he said, ‘These Are My Chosen.”

Let’s stop and think about this story. Ben Yussef was the trainer of fine Arabian horses. In fact, they were the finest in all the world. But, in order to find the very best, Ben Yussef required them to go through sacrifices and trials before the sorting. We can compare this to ourselves. We are the best and finest the Lord has, and because we are, there are some sacrifices we must make. Stop and think. When the sorting day comes, will your testimony and actions reflect as one the Lord will proudly be able to count as one of His chosen? Stop and evaluate. Find out where you stand, and then take action to refine yourself.