Predestination

If you want to rattle people’s cages, simply talk about predestination. I appreciate beliefs that differ from my own, but I am a strong believer in predestination. I don’t think we choose to follow Christ of our own free will. I believe God saves us by His grace, and nothing we do, even our fabricated faith, can save us from Hell. If anyone is saved, it is because God has drawn and chosen them.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9

You must admit that, if you think God did not predestine anyone, than our salvation is in our hands, not God’s hands. I don’t want to trust myself to my own decision. There is more comfort and security knowing God predestines who will go to heaven and hell. I pray every day, “God take away my free will!”

I wrestled with this concept myself. I asked, “If God predestined who would be sent to hell, wouldn’t that make Him mean and evil? Then I reminded myself that all God’s judgments are righteous and true. If He predestines who would follow Him, than this act was holy and perfect. We must trust Him.

Here is a fictional encounter with God that brings the situation into perspective.

“God, did you predestine people to go to Hell?” I asked.
“If I did, would you be offended by me?” He countered.
“I must admit, it doesn’t seem fair. Shouldn’t you give people a choice?” I asked.
“Fair? You want a choice. You want free will. I want my choice. I want to choose just as you wish to choose. Don't you trust my choice more than you own choice?"

Some supportive scriptures.
Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5-12, John 12:40.

Please comment and discuss. I love hearing what other people think.