Subject: Who determines our destiny? |
Bible Note: Dear Gene, "We determine in which direction our destiny will take. God determines the results of our choices.God has destined for us to choose. God determines the consequences for our choices." Ok Gene, if I understand your statement, God simply reacts to man's free-will choices by either blessing or punishing him based upon whether those choices be for good or evil. Presuming that you are correct, how do we explain what Peter said : Acts 4:25-28 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. This passage seems to clearly state that God had predestined the actions of those who were gathered together against Jesus. I know that God is not the author of evil and neither does He tempt anyone to sin. But, if we look at the case of Joseph and his brothers, what they did to Joseph they meant it for evil but God meant it for good! The same could be true for those evil doers that Peter cites in Acts 4; Herod, Pontius Pilate, the gentiles, the Jews etc. Nevertheless God pre-destined that just as Joseph's brothers were pre-destined to sell him into slavery, these people were pre-destined to crucify the Holy Servant Jesus. Will they be punished? Absolutely! Do they deserve punishment? Of course they do! Did God ordain from all eternity that these people would do what they did? The Bible says Yes!....Do we understand that God is Soveriegn over all things that occur, but, man is still resposible for his own actions? No. I just don't think that things are that simple or easy to explain. I believe that God is bigger than any of us are capable of understanding. Eternity itself will not be long enough for us to ever comprehend how marvelous and wonderful His ways really are. Time to earn my bread by the sweat of my brow. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this subject. John |