Thursday, October 4, 2012

Predestination vs. Free Will








I was just a little girl when I asked Jesus to come into my heart. It was a simple act of faith, and because Jesus always keeps His promises, He came right in. He has never, for one single second since that moment, forsaken me.

According to scripture, God knew before I was born I would make that choice. In fact, Psalm 139 says my whole life, every single day, was recorded in God's book before I was born:

   15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.


Could we then conclude that I was predestined to be His child? What then of free will? Did I not have a choice in the matter? One of the most familiar verses in scripture says I did :

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
 John 3:16

It was my choice to believe, and it is one that is available to everyone. No one is forced to accept the gift of salvation. You may choose to reject it. It is a choice made of your own free will. 

Great theological minds have wrestled with this seeming paradox down through the ages. I do not possess a great theological mind. However a Pastor once shared this illustration which has somehow settled this issue of predestination vs. free will for me. 


Picture a door. Over the top of the door there is sign that reads: " Whosoever Will May Come." You decide to open the door. With trembling hand you grab hold of the handle and open it wide. As you step inside and close the door your eyes drift upward - and there, over the door is another sign. It reads: "Chosen Before the Foundation of the World."

"God has secrets known to no one..."  
  Deuteronomy 29:29

Blessings,
Linda