Salvation - Fair or Biblical?

Many passages in scripture would seem to suggest, at first glance, a lack of fairness in the way of salvation.

For example:

Rom. 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to the Pharaoh "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills and whom He wills He hardens. (NKJV)

People will sometimes go to great lengths to redefine what otherwise seems obvious in an attempt to make sure the scripture fits their idea of fairness. While I can't say my analogies below regarding salvation are perfect, no analogy ever is,  I do hope they aid in describing the error of  much fairness thinking as it relates to salvation and provide a more biblical picture.

Typical fairness analogy - God laments over the less than ideal circumstances that have left mankind drowning in the lake of sin. God throws out a life ring (salvation through Jesus) to all people. Some say "yes I want to live" and grab hold (saved), while others say "no thanks" and eventually drown (eternal condemnation). God tried to save all, but only some were smart enough, humble enough or something else enough to take the offer. Those who grabbed hold of salvation are glad they had what it took to make the right choice and take comfort in the fact that all had a chance! Fair maybe, biblical - not so much!

A more biblical analogy - From before creation God's redemptive plan included the present state of things, even mankind hopelessly drowning in lake of sin (mankind is still to blame for sin). God has also planned from before creation that He would rescue some of these drowning people by His grace and for His glory. Mankind does not want God and would never choose Him. Spiritually mankind might as well be dead at the bottom of the lake! Mankind was born lake dwellers (sinners) and also enjoys life in the lake of sin separated from God and His righteousness. If God throws in a life ring mankind will ignore it, throw it back or even curse God for meddling in their business. In spite of mankind's enmity against God, His plan includes the gracious saving of some of the rebellious lake dwellers. Since they won't choose Him and don't want Him, God changes their hearts "rebirths" them (through word/Spirit), so that they recognize their true state and freely desire Him, forgiveness and even righteousness. God does everything necessary (through Jesus) for those He chose to save and others are left with what they wanted, separation from God and His righteousness forever.

Not a perfect analogy, but more biblical and as it should be - God gets all the glory! This seems especially fitting since scripture tells us the way He does save is not to the praise of our wise choice, but - "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us acceptable in the Beloved". (Eph. 1:6 NKJV)