Subject: Why didn't God make people to love him? |
Bible Note: It is obvious that God the Creator endowed human beings with the capacity to love -- to love God as well as their fellow men. Otherwise, Scripture would not command us to love God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves, because Scripture never issues an impossible command. It is equally obvious that not all human beings love either God with all their hearts or fellowman as themselves. Man has always been notoriously adept at disobedience. God chose to create man in His own image, and this entails a certain degree of choice, although not absolute choice in all things -- that is within the province of God alone -- but somewhat limited choice. But you and all of us, like Joshua, can assuredly "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15). And "abhor what is evil,; cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9). Salvation is of God -- God does the saving; man cannot save himself. But God does not "predestine" anyone to hell nor fail to "elect" anyone to heaven who comes to Him in faith. The Lord is "not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentence." (2 Peter 3:9). "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17). "This is an unlimited offer of grace and salvation to all who desire to have their thirsty souls quenched." (John MacArthur in MacArthur Study Bible, p. 2025: Nelson) Back to the question: God endowed us with the capacity to love Him. He desires and He commands our love and obedience to Him. He promises eternal life to those who do and damnation to those who do not. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve" was the choice Joshua laid before the people of ancient Israel. The same choice is laid before us today. --Hank |