When did God choose believers according to Les?
God's choosing took place before the world was ever created; He had believers in His sights then. After salvation, they can understand this. They escaped punishment not because they were smarter or more deserving, but only by God's sovereign grace, having accepted His pardon and been set free.
Les teaches that this truth becomes clear only after salvation: a believer can then say that God had him in His sights before the world was ever created. In the surrounding context, Les compares this to God's sovereignty in grace. All people were hell-bound sinners deserving punishment, but believers accepted God's pardon and were set free. No one can boast in being smart enough or having the wherewithal; it is only by grace that God put His finger on him. Les also gives an illustration from human reproduction, noting the thousands of ova in every female and billions of sperm in every male.