God has a future and a hope for each person you come in contact with. He is at work in their life. As his preferred future works out they will come into a relationship with the Father. As the Scripture says, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 20:16). In light of that parable, we could rightly say, “Many are called but few choose.” God has chosen them regardless of their response. Our role is to proceed with the valid assumption that he is choosing everyone into his family.
Two truths to remember:
God has a hope for their salvation.
God sees forward to his purposes for people. He predestines every single person to be saved. That’s not to say all will be saved. Many violate God’s choosing of them for salvation. Many are called, but few choose to work with his arrangement. Some of those who choose to not work with the arrangement are religious ones it seems. Regardless, it is the hope of God that people come to know Christ. Peter nails this thought well.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Pet. 3:9, NKJV
He is not willing that any should perish. Will some perish? Sadly yes. Many are called, few choose. Our role isn’t to worry about those who aren’t saved. Ours is to pick up on the heart of God for others.
God will deposit in you his hope for their salvation.
The Lost have great favor resting upon their lives. God is going to impart to you hope for their salvation.
“putting on…the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1 Thess. 5:8, NIV
I have experienced his supernatural hope for people as I have served them. Out of the blue, in the midst of giving them a bottle of water, I have been able to clearly see them as Believers in Jesus. This gift of spiritual sight is part of the faith God gives us so we can interact effectively with not-yet Believers.