Hi Chris,
I agree that He chooses whom He will and we have no part in that but (always a "but") how about what is in the hearts of the called who hear His Words and even though they do see what is being said they reject it out of hand because of tradition, an unwillingness to take the narrow road (a lonely walk), a sense of self righteousness, stiffnecked and stubborn because they find the messenger to be not quite to their personal liking (for whatever reason). Preferring companionship and praise to sound doctrine, comfortable in a familiar place where they can speak and hear smooth things which tend to puff up the carnal man.
Certainly their eyes have not been opened, yet within their hearts they embrace this ignorance, they revel in their self perceived superiority and castigate even mocking those who carry forth His Word.
Like Ray has written about in the "Free Will" series, yes we are prone to sin, the flesh is weak predisposed to selfishness and satisfying our carnal nature, feeding the beast so to speak, but when we submit to sin it is not a robotic reaction we do so most willingly and often with great enthusiasm.
This chapter of Proverbs began this train of thought; Proverbs 7 1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe