Why Does God Choose to Open the Eyes of Some and Not Others?

Christ Healing the Blind Man by Andrey Mironov, 2009

Study the verses below and consider God's Word concerning what standard He uses to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind.

Romans 9:11  though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--

Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

If all of us have fallen short from God’s perfect standard, then what would God use as a measure to choose who to save?

John 10:27-30  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28)  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (29)  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (30)  I and the Father are one."
 
Acts 13:48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
 
John 10:16  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
 
Ephesians 1:11  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
 
Romans 8:28-30  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  (29)  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  (30)  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
 
Ephesians 1:4-5  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love  (5)  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
 
Ephesians 1:11  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
 
Romans 9:10-21  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,  (11)  though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-- (12)  she was told, "The older will serve the younger."  (13)  As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."  (14)  What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!  (15)  For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."  (16)  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.  (17)  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."  (18)  So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.  (19)  You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"  (20)  But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"  (21)  Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
 
So election is based on any decision He saw you make. It’s based on something else...Love.
 
Jeremiah 31:3  the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
 
Deuteronomy 4:37  And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,
 
Deuteronomy 7:8  but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
 
Psalms 25:6-7  Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.  (7)  Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
 
Summary: God does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual other than the fact that He made a commitment to them before they were even born.  He chooses the elect according to the loving intention of His will (Eph. 1:4-8; Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him. Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (Rom. 9:15, 21).

Next let's look at who exactly Jesus suffered, died, and was resurrected for...