“What’s The Denominator?” (Matthew 22:14)

The statistics were impressive. Ninety percent of this college’s pre-med students matriculated to medical school. The national average was about forty percent. Touting these stratospheric numbers, what college bound high school senior, seeking a career path to medicine, would not want to enroll in this college?

The numbers are accurate but with any statistic, one needs to carefully analyze how the data was collected. In this case, one needs to ask, “What’s the denominator?” For the United States, the denominator was about 53,000 in 2016. For this college, the denominator was 20!

The story behind this huge disparity belied the incredibly grueling selection process that led to the eventual 20 applicants. In actuality, when this group of students began their freshman year, they were joined by at least 200 other students. The mandatory freshman class for pre-meds was general chemistry and this was a class that whittled down serious and committed pre-meds from ones who were merely considering a medical career. After the first mid-term, the applicant pool dropped in half. After the second mid-term, one day before the drop date, more dropped. By the second semester, the applicant pool was down to 40 students. The sophomore year bega with organic chemistry, considered by many as the ultimate weeding out class. As in general chemistry, the applicant pool shrunk again. By the time this class took the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), there were only 20 left. Of these 20, 18 matriculated to medical school after graduation. Indeed, it was a 90% matriculation rate! The statistics were accurate but close scrutiny  of the denominator revealed the true story. 

For many are  called, but few are chosen.

Matthew 22:14 (NASB)

God offers the gift of salvation to everyone. Yet in spite of the billions of people who have heard His invitation, only a few are chosen. God is not capricious, saving those whom only He deems worthy, He gives all of us an opportunity to come to Him through our own free will. Sadly, many will ignore the offer or believe they can live a sanctified life by appearing to be a Christian and attending church and even praying. However, none of this matters unless one truly repents of their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

For medical school, the competition is fierce and the denominator is slowly whittled down. For salvation and eternal life, the denominator is the entire human race, every living person. It is never whittled down and God desires all to come to Him and receive eternal life and salvation. This would be a 100% acceptance rate and it is entirely achievable. 

It is all up to you.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.