Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Free Will

Every once in a while God gives me an epiphany.  As imperfect humans, we often think that our Heavenly Father can and will do anything we ask, including change other people.

This is unrealistic because each of us has been given "free will" to choose to do good or evil.  It is the choice to do evil that causes others so much pain and suffering.  Still we are not pre-programmed robots.  God would not want us to love Him because we have to but because we choose to.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,"  Deuteronomy 30:19

This verse also tells us something else.  Contrary to the teachings of Calvin and other so called theological sages, predestination is not a Biblical teaching.  If certain people were predetermined to be saved and others not, why then would the Bible tell anyone to choose life in order that you may live?  Something is not adding up and when in doubt, I'd rather rely on the authority of God's words.

As much as we'd like to see positive world changes such as peace and brotherhood, the success of that is largely dependent with others.  Right now God is changing those who are willing to avail themselves of the precious blood and sin atoning sacrifice of the Lord Yahushua.   Each man, woman and child must step up and confess their sins and wish to be made over in Christ's image.  Some people will never do that, even when they see others who have been completely transformed by this holy process.  They would rather live for themselves and die in their sins because of pride and their love of decadent pleasures.  So we can only ask God for things He has under His authority.  God does not rule our wills.  We look forward to the day when the whole earth will be filled with those who willfully submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.