ROMANS
This week I will be looking at Romans 9. In particular predestination vs freewill. It's a topic that's very theological, so let's take it with a grain of salt. I've been racking my brain about this one for about three weeks and I'm beginning to build a picture in my own mind that seems to answer some of the hard questions relating to this topic like are the two really paradoxical? At first glance they do seem too different to be able to work together. Yet I'm beginning to see them from a different perspective. Predestination - some would call it fate - does not necesarily infringe on the choices we make. Predestination implies purpose of existence- I believe that we are all here for a reason, that there is a point to each of our lives and that our brief time here does make a huge difference. I also believe that God's ultimate purpose in all of our lives will be achieved regardless of our desicions. I would sight the story of Moses as a great example of this fact. Pharoah was determined to destroy the Israelites, he had the first born males killed. But the fact is that he ended up nurturing and supporting the very Israelite who would bring his nation to it's knees. God has a very real sense of irony and sometimes mocks our stupidity. This is an example of how our desicions- no matter how bad they may be- cannot change what is predestined to happen. Any way I look forward to elaborating on this more during the week.
God Bless.
God Bless.
posted by omniaveritas | 9:37 AM
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I don't want to get too tangled up on the whole Predestination thing- hind sight is 20/20, so I am told. Although I must say I find it very exciting. Things in my own life have proven to me that my life is definitely following some kind of pattern. I have had some huge things happen lately- wife in a car accident is probably the biggest thing. And you know what- that one event could have been a complete catstrophe for my family. But through an amazing set of events and some amazing people in my life these things didn't even cause more than a ripple. The Lord provided for me financially- he gave me the time I needed- it was all there the day things went off track. I can't cook- and God is well aware of that- he surrounded me with friends and family who did all that for me. But the thing that gets me is how very co-ordinated things seemed. I have been covered in an amazing way. If this event had happend even a month earlier things would have been so much different! The other thing that gets me is that there were some fairly major things happening in the under currents of my life, some stemming from events that happened years ago that co-incided to benefit my family. Roman's 8:28(Rom 8:28) We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.
It is true. I beleive that God has set our lives out before us all, but I also believe that amongst all that we have very real choices that colour that life and give it value or worthlessness. If you can truly love God then nothing that comes your way in life can hurt you or seperate you from the Lord.
(Rom 8:38) For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future,
(Rom 8:39) neither the world above nor the world below---there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
In John 3:16 we see something very interesting, we are told that; 'who so ever shall beleiev in Him.....' that's an open invitation. We can't choose our families, the body we live in, the socio-economic grouping we are born into, where we are born, the country we are born into, the chinks in our nature, our temperament. We do however choose what we are going to do with what we are given. And we are empowered to make that decision. There is an old saying-'If life gives you lemons then make lemonaid!'Some would cringe and moan and complain- why lemons, woe is me and yet another will look at it as if it were an opportunity to print money? There-in is the power of choice. And Jesus gives us some interesting parables that outline this idea. Matt 25:14-39 is one example. A ruler entrusts three of his servants differing ammounts of money two of them did something with theirs and one did nothing- neddless to say the one who brought back only the coin wasn't popular.I also note that we as people are mastered by either God or sin so in this life we really don't have the kind of freedom we think we do. Free-will would mean that I always do that which I want to do. This just isn't the case. I have wanted to post on predestination for weeks and for reasons inside and outside of my control I couldn't! I was constarined by my own flawed nature and the flaws in the system that supported the power reading forum. Paul gives us an eloquent assessment of this in Romans chapter 7. He laments that the things he wants to do he doesn't do and the things he does want to do he doesn't do. And when you boil it down we as Christians fight a war within ourselves where our conflicting natures battle to serve two masters. If I had freewill I would follow my master's footsteps unwaveringly- but I still struggle with the old man within. I'm constantly doing my own thing whe I should be doing God's will! We should be praying constantly for ourselves and others in this respect.
God bless you that you can bless those around you.
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