Predestination, Election

I know I shouldn’t be up so late, but just wanted to give you a couple thoughts!

This is about an argument I keep having with a friend who is much smarter than me about predestination and election. Basically some people believe in predestination: That God has already chosen who goes to heaven and who goes to hell and there isn’t much we can do about it, other people believe in election, in which God has not chosen but leaves the choice to us. The fights can get rather vicious. (Have you seen church people fight? It’s better than UFC)

Studying the characteristics of God leads one to the conclusion that God is Eternal, He never had a beginning nor will He have an end. He lives outside the ‘realm’ of creation called ‘time’. Time, is a part of creation. Created by God. God Himself, is not bound by time like we are.

Lets stop and talk about one of my favorite movies. I like Michael J Fox movies. In “Back to the Future” he drove a car which could be set to any time he wanted. And the car would take him to that whatever time he selected. For instance he was living in 1985 and he typed in 1950, and he ended up at that date. The professor explained that it broke the ‘time barrier’. The explanation behind the idea (this is widely excepted by scientists) is that any date in time, actually happens simultaneously if the time barrier was broken. Experts conclude that if we can break the time barrier and enter into another realm (which the Bible calls ‘eternity’) we can be in any time period we want. Its the year 2000 right now, but also 1900, and also the year 4000 in eternity. Theoretically speaking.

Now there are theories on how we can break the time barrier (theories more realistic than the Back to the Future movie) but we cannot test those theories as yet, because they involve traveling at the speed of light. And I’d rather have scientists solve the rush our problem on the highway than waste money trying to break the time barrier. :)

So God, who sits in eternity, sees us in the year 2000. But also 2010 at the same time. Where as we see it as “now its the year 2000, and in 10 years it will be the year 2010”

This is where ‘Predestination’ comes in and why I don’t agree with it.

Eph 1 :4-5 ‘For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he PREDESTINED us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– ‘

So you were chosen by God before the creation of the world. This is a contradiction right? How then can the world be saved? Well relax, leave your denominations at home. Because God transcends time. He sees everything at once. He doesn’t see you now, and then wait for 10 years to see you in 10 years. He sees all of your life from the BEGINNING to the end, all at one time. YOU’RE the one that does the waiting. Not God.

Therefore He can choose you, and at the same time you have free choice. Everyone has the opportunity to be saved! (Heb 2:9, IN 3:16).

Sorry I cant articulate this better, but it is 2:45am!

Now you think for yourself about these things – We are sinful people. The wages (or payment) of sin is death. Not just bodily death but eternal death, or Hell. If you die in your sins, or without Jesus you will be in Hell forever. Eternity. No time. Ten thousand years, ten billion years, ten trillion years. You’ll be there. Eternity is the key word.

Now consider the cross. Jesus hung on the cross (for our sins). He is God though, who is not bound by time. Could it be that those 6 hours of earthly time were an eternity on His ‘time clock?’. Did Jesus, actually suffer an eternity worth of God’s wrath and punishment for our sins?

I need to sleep right now, so I’ll form a conclusion when I get to heaven! I’m going there because of what Jesus did for me. He paid for my sins. My punishment would have been eternity in hel1. But Christ for my redemption, and His blood washes me whiter than snow. I was ‘chosen’, but I had to accept. And I do accept. Thank God!

What about you? Listen to this:

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for EVERYONE. HEB 1:9

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

He died for you, that you may have eternal life. Will you take it or leave it?

When you walk UP TO the gates of salvation you’ll see a sign written “whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life” And IF you walk THROUGH those gates (accept Christ) you’ll see a sign written “chosen in Him from the foundation of the world.”

Another scripture – ‘Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself, we are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”

God has made a way for everyone and anyone to be saved. He loves you! His desire, would be that everyone would turn to Him and be saved. However He is all knowing, and knows, even knew from the foundation of the earth who would and wouldn’t tum to Him. We have free will, and we can choose. I’ve made made my choice. Will you? – Asif Zamir