Subject: Who determines our destiny? |
Bible Note: 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." We must realize something. God is THE teacher. He has his lessons already planned out in sequence. He is teaching both man and angels. Man is predestined in part because man is a great teaching tool for God's teaching angels. God knows what we will choose, yet he does not make us choose as we do. He knew before we were born how we would choose. Because his omniscience can do this, God can choose and predestine each one of us to exist at a certain time in history so that a lesson (in attitude) can be shown to the angels (and to ourselves). God could have chosen an atheist to be born during a time of great apostasy, or he could choose for an atheist to be born during a time of great spiritual revival. What ever God chooses is the atheist's destiny. Yet, God did not destine for the person be an atheist. God chooses when and where each one of is to be born. That way he can plan his lessons in the classroom for angels and men to be taught about God's ways. That is why the passage you quoted from is worded as it is. We have all been predestined as far as what time in history we will live out our earthly lives. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."(Acts 17:26 nivĀ®) Our lives (time to be born) has been predestined by God to suite his purpose in his plan. But, our choices are not predestined. We must make those. God's omniscience utilizes what he knows we will choose to suite his plan. We often times forget that God is just as concerned with angels as he is with man. " It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. *Even angels long to look into these things.*" (1 Pet 1:12nivĀ®) Grace and peace, Gene |