Predestination and freewill had been an on-going debate in today’s churches. Some churches believe in predestination, some in choices but yet some believe in parts of each. We all know God search the heart and test the mind. He gives to every man according to his ways.
Jer 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
He rewards the good and punishes the evil. We tend to believe that the cause of what we do is followed by the effect of what we receive from God. It is indeed true and no doubt about it. However, the Bible repeatedly shows the effect sometime precedes cause. In other words, the blessings or curses are given to you even before you did anything, but will receive them upon yourself only after you chose to receive them.
To fully understand, let me give an example:
“A man got stuck on a remote highway with no water or fuel and no one usually travels on the route he took. He is in extreme thirst and the nearest help is more than 100 kilometers on either side and will take more than an hour to reach. Realizing that he will die in the next few minute of extreme thirst and heat, he prayed earnestly and the moment he finished praying, a car approached, gave him water and fuel. He continued his journey happily praising God for what He did by answering his prayer”.
The story is similar to a testimony but there are some hidden truths we often fail to unwrap. When he know there cannot be any help, he still had faith and called upon God and He promptly came to his aid. So, when did God started the process of helping the man? Did He heard his prayer, answered it by sent him aid (or) did He prepared the aid for him long before he even realize that he would end up in such a desperate situation and will pray towards Him? If God had sent the aid after answering his prayer, it would have atleast an hour before it reaches him. Just like in this story, God had sent us aid and prepared us for every good work in Him, long before the situation even arises, not because of our prayers and what we do, but because of His work which He prepared but He will prepare before-hand only if we pray and do good works now.
In this blog, we will discuss how God had made His choice long before our choices are made but His past choice depends on our present choices we make now. I know it is confusing for many until you realize the fact that the very fabric of our space and time is created by God this way, refer delayed choice quantum eraser experiment (video1 or video2 explanation).
Joseph – Blessing
Gen 50:20-21 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph had a choice to either save his brothers from famine or get revenge. He made a choice of his own freewill to do good inspite of their evil. Because of the choice he took to save his brothers and not revenge, God predestined him to be governor over them long before Joseph actually saves them or be in a position to save them. If Joseph did not save his brothers but took revenge, he would have not been predestined by God to be a ruler over his brothers. Hence, the choice of what Joseph did determined his predestination of becoming a governor.
Esther – Blessing
Esth 4:13-14 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther had a choice to either save his people from annihilation or live herself in luxury without risking her life. She made a choice of her own freewill to meet the king risking her life for saving God’s people. Because of the choice she took to save God’s people, He predestined her to be queen long before she actually helped them or be in a position to help them through the king. If Queen Esther did not risk her life to save God’s people, she would have not been predestined by God to be a queen. Hence, the choice of what Esther did determined her predestination of becoming a queen.
Absalom – Curse
2Sam 12:11-12 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. ‘For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’
2Sam 16:22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Absalom had a choice of either sinning or not sinning against God. But, he sinned with his own freewill by going into his father’s concubines in sight of all Israel and killing the kings sons. Because of his choice of sinning, God predestined him to be a curse for his father, just as God said He would.
Conclusion
It is important to understand we always have a choice. It is also equally important to understand what we choose now through our own freewill, changes how we are predestined by God long before we are even born.
Prov 16:4 The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
No one is born wicked for the kingdom of God is for those who are like children. Yet, God predestined the wicked for the day of doom long before they are born when they turn wicked.
Deut 30:15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
Deut 31:29 “For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”
The children of Israel were given a choice and yet what they would chose was long foretold before that generation was even born, and yes, they did exactly what was mentioned in the law.
Isa 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
That latter generation which turned away was predestined to have evil befall on them long before they were even born, when they chose to do evil at their present time. I do realize this is difficult and confusing for many to understand. The easiest way to understand how God gives us the choice of predestination, is to understand from His creations which we can see and observe – delayed choice quantum eraser experiment.
What is your choice today? Repent now. Be holy and righteous. The choice you make today will change how you are predestined by God long before your are born.
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