If God chooses who he will save, why does he give us life in the first place?

Romans 9:22-24

What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

 The question arises. If God chooses who he will save and who he won't, why does he even let us live on earth at all? Why give us life if he already knows who he will save and who he will condemn to hell for their sin?

• It shows his patience. He has every right to destroy all people who sin (i.e. everyone), but instead he is patient with us. He gives us ample opportunities to turn to him. Obviously on our own strength we cannot turn to him, but that is our choice. Without God's grace, we will always choose to reject him - it is only through him changing us and sending the Holy Spirit on us to convict us that we will change. Nevertheless God is patient and gives people opportunity to turn to him so they are without excuse.
• It will make his power known. When Jesus/God comes back to judge, he will judge justly and it will show forth his power
• It allows us, christians, to see his glory. If we were just saved than we would not fully understand how much we have been saved from. If we did not see his creation we would have less to praise him for. If he had not sent Jesus we would not see the depths of his mercy, grace and love. If he did not judge and condemn, then salvation from him would not be of much worth.

But I still struggle through with this. Surely it would glorify God more to save all people and bring them all to repentance and faith (even though obviously he does not do this). Surely that would glorify God more and let us see his grace and mercy more?

Well God knows far better than me, and he has chosen to do things his way, and I have no right to complain about that. It's good to ask questions and to seek deeper into God's word and his will, but his ways are higher than ours, and we need to be prepared to say that "the judge of all the earth will do what is right" (Genesis 18:25).

I hope those thoughts were helpful!

God Bless.

Nat