[Word Count: 758]
Seeing without Controlling
There's a popular idea in American Churches that goes something like this:
"GOD sees the decisions we make but doesn't make us decide any particular way."
This idea redefines "foreknowledge" as saying that GOD "foreknows" that we are going to decide on our own to be saved and will honor our decision with Salvation from His Wrath."
Such a fanciful concept preserves the illusion of our autonomy and gives the impression that GOD would NEVER disagree with our decision to go to Heaven and avoid the Lake that burns eternally with fire and brimstone.
The only problem is THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH THIS FOOLISHNESS.
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the Will of My Father which is in Heaven.” -- Jesus Christ, Matthew 7:21 KJV
The logic implied by the next five decisions the GODHEAD made before They created the Cosmos will torpedo such claptrap from the waters of Christian theology once and for all.
Chosen
Contrary to popular American religious legend that passes for sound Christian doctrine, the choice that COUNTS towards your ultimate eternal fate and mine is not our decisions but GOD's.
“Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you.” -- Jesus Christ, John 15:16 KJV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His Will, to the praise of the Glory of His Grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” -- the Apostle Paul, Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV
If we can set aside our ego, preconceived notions and generational traditions the clarity of the Scriptures will set us on the Narrow Way and spare us a horrifying surprise on the Last Day.
Jesus said, "You have not chosen Me" TO THE APOSTLES, who are exalted above the Old Testament prophets (Ephesians 2:20), and whose names are written on the Twelve Foundations of the City of GOD (Revelation 21:14)!!! Do you honestly believe that you can bypass the Sovereignty the apostles themselves could not avoid???
The Book of Jeremiah is clear on the fact of GOD deciding Jeremiah's office and ministry before he was born; so, at what point did Jeremiah decide to be saved?
John the Baptist, who is in Christ's Own Words the GREATEST MAN EVER BORN OF A WOMAN (Matthew 11:11), had his life and prophetic ministry declared before his conception; when did John the Baptist "decide" to go to Heaven?
Realizing that my eternal destiny is determined by the One unaffected by flattery and bribery helps me to avoid false humility and brings true desperation and passion to my prayers.
One Lump
There's another critical truth in Scripture designed to purify our humility and purge away the last vestige of our pride...
“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, 'Why hast thou made me thus?' Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” -- the Apostle Paul, Romans 9:20-21 KJV
Another cherished element of religious arrogance bites the dust! If you've been in church as long as i have at least once, you have heard someone say in one way or another "GOD saw something in you that made you worth pursuing (or blessing...or saving)."
We even go as far as to project this poppycock on the historical figures of the Bible implying that, even among the Saved, some people are spiritually "better" than others, providing an excuse for the evil way church members treat each other.
In Romans 9:21 it is made blindingly clear: the ONLY DIFFERENCE between the vessel fashioned for honor (the Saved) and the vessel fashioned for dishonor (the Unsaved) is WHAT GOD DECIDES TO DO WITH IT.
In Part Five of the Narrow Way, we'll continue our study of Divine Sovereignty with the doctrine of Predestination.