(January 12, 2003 )
2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king (God), who gave a wedding feast for his son (Jesus). 3 "And he sent out his slaves (Apostles and ministers) to call those (the Middle East and Western Civilization) who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4 "Again he sent out other slaves saying, `Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast."' 5 "But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7 "But the king was enraged and sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and set their city on fire. 8 "Then he said to his slaves, `The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 `Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.' 10 "And those slaves went out into the streets, and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests. 11 "But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw there a man not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he *said to him, `Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And he was speechless. 13 "Then the king said to the servants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:2-14 (KJV)
I believe that all who have heard the name of Jesus (in whatever language) and have access to the Bible are called. Those who hold fast to what truths are taught and who seek out help when needed are chosen.
Those who are being called who are not responding are lost or perishing. The following explains this somewhat.
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 1 Corinthians 3:12-17 (NIV)
This passage clearly points out that to this day the old covenant is relevant.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NIV)
~~~~