He is the righteous judge who will pass sentence upon those who disobey and reward those who obey. God is no respector of persons ( Romans 2:11 ). From the OT to the NT we see this as a fact:
2Ch 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
In regards to being elected of God, I believe that many are called ( invited or appointed ) but few are chosen. Meaning there are few that receive the salvation made available to them in comparison to the many that He sends His message to. Election for the believer isn't necessarily an issue of God specifically choosing him or her to salvation. Our election comes because of our spiritual union with Christ. Once we accept Christ as Savior the Spirit's work of sanctification transfers us into Union with our Savior so that we share His destiny, His election. ( I believe that this parallels yourt own description of God's elect ).
I simply cannot find that God has "hand picked special individuals" for salvation and some for eternal damnation. His word, from cover to cover is contrary to that idea. The following paragraph is from the Canons of Dordt, Forst Head of Doctrines, Article 7. I must say that the bible clearly refutes this doctrine as it is false:
Election is the unchangeable pupose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, He has out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of His own will, chosen from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault from their primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom He from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect and the foundation of salvation. This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than others, but with them involved in one common misery, God has decreed to give to Christ to be saved by Him, and effectually to call and draw them to His communion by His Word and Spirit; to bestow upon them true faith, justification, and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of His Son, finally to glorify them for the demonstration of His mercy, and for the praise of the riches of His glorious grace. God did all this in order to demonstrate his mercy, to the praise of the riches of his glorious grace.
It is not "mercy" to provide salvation to a few. It is mercy to provide salvation for ALL ( and He did ).
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Yes, I agree that God's ways are Higher than mine and His thoughts better than mine. I believe that we are to put on the mind of Christ. ( mind being "nous" meaning the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining or the intellectual faculty, the understanding ).
Paul tells us : I Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 1Cr 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Please don't take this as me saying that we will ever know more than God because we won't. However, Jesus plainly addresses the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven being revealed to us in Matt 13. We can better understand the person or nature of God revealing to us His thoughts and ways.