Bible Question: God knows everything about us from before we were conceived. Because God knows that some people will reject Jesus and will die in their sins, does God have a plan for those people, or does He just "write them off"? |
Bible Answer: This is a very controversial subject. So there seems to be a contradiction among some scriptures as follows: John 3:16-17, Acts 17:30 and the ominous warning in Matt 7:13-14. "Yes, God so loved the world..." and He wants ALL of us to repent. He even warns us of the consequences of our choices, Heaven or Hell. So what are we to conclude from all this? He Created us with His very own Image, our soul and conscience with which we'll carry forever into eternity. AND God gives us all the ability to choose which path we want to follow; we call it our "Free Will." 2 Cor 8:3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. We need to remember our Lord and Creator looks at us as His Creation, in the same way an earthly parent looks at his child, Matt 18:2-5. We all know and realize children can grow up and become one of two things. They can grow up to be a contributing member of society. OR they can grow up to be a deviant to some degree, maybe even land in prison or get themselves executed. Yes imagine those greiving parents. So our God does want us ALL to come home to Him, to the Heavenly Mansion He's got waiting for us but it's up us to accept that Gift and to obey His Commands. Samuel revealed this very basic, timeless Truth to King Saul long ago in... 1 Sam 15:22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. We all know the wonderful feeling of a parent when his child obeys and does indeed follow the parent's wishes for his life. AND we've heard about the results and empathize with a greiving parent when their child becomes an awful criminal and ends up killing someone or many. Yes, so very, VERY sad. But let's all think about this for a moment. Do we allow such a hardened criminal to run free among us, continuing his pillage of society and run amok, killing and robbing or whatever else he chooses? I think we all know the answer to that. Now let's put ourselves in the place of our God. You've probably seen the E-Mail that's making the rounds. The world has got some horrible disease and it's running rampant, killing thousands, maybe millions. The medical community discovers our one and only son has the perfect cure running in his viens. Yes, his blood can save the whole world but those insane doctors need ALL of our son's blood to do it. Then we run into one individual who has the disease and refuses to take the cure. He even takes the vial and stomps on it in disgust, depriving someone else of that life-saving serum. You tell me, do we feel any pity for such an individual? Yes, I agree with you; a rather extreme, very extreme story. And our reaction is naturally human whereas our God is the all-powerful Almighty with all those omni-traits. So is it too much to believe that He really will send the disobedient and selfish people to Hell? I have to say I believe what He says. So should we become christians out of fear? Some do but I'm thinking we all find out it's great to be a child of God as you can still have fun with fellow christians. I know; I have fun every day. I cut up and act like a clown all the time; just ask my wife and kids, my grandkids. Well that's about all I can think to say. Yeah, maybe even a bit too much. Appreciate your patience in reading this far. And as always, Go with God in everything, Bill |