Are We Really Free?
Or Have We Been Programmed by God?
In at least 4 different places in the New Testament the Apostle Paul talked about us being predestined. Have you ever wondered what he was saying? What did he really mean? At first glance it sounds like we might not even have a choice but will be forced into Heaven even if we don't want to be there, or forced into Hell. Let's take a brief look at what Paul actually said and then see if we can easily figure it all out.
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:29
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:30
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will..." Ephesians 1:5
"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will..." Ephesians 1:11
First, whom did God "foreknow"? Didn't He know every person on earth before they were born? Didn't King David say that God knew him while he was yet in his mother's womb? (Psalm 139:13, 15, 16) Of course, God knew each of us before we were born. (Jeremiah 1:5)
Second, what was God's original plan for us? (Ephesians 1:4) What were we originally designed for? What were we "predestined" to do?
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
It was to live and never die! It was for us to "be conformed to the image of his Son" who is "LIFE"! (Romans 8:29) God's original plan for everyone was eternal life. He predestined us to live forever, but Satan messed that up with sin.
Sin causes death and that is exactly what Jesus came to save us from. In fact, one of the most important reasons that Jesus came to this earth was to restore His original plan of eternal life for all who will trust Him.
In the Garden of Eden God gave us the freedom to choose and He will not take that freedom back. So now you are free to choose to follow Jesus and trust Him to give you a life that never ends, or you can choose to do things your own way which will ultimately result in your own death.
You have been predestined, pre-designed to LIVE, but God will not force you to live if you really don't want to. God values your freedom more than He values your salvation.
It's your choice, life or death, but that's true freedom!
