I woke up a few weeks ago and I realized that I possibly have my mind wrapped around the ‘predestination vs free will’ thing that has been tossed about in the Christian community between scholars like a tennis ball for scores of years. I believe people have made a mountain out of a molehill, so I decided to let the air out of this big balloon to see what was left.
I think it is simple and to explain my thoughts I will use an allegory:
Your rich father has predestined, in a trust for you, to become the head of one of his $$$$ corporations when you turn twenty-five.
On your twenty-fifth birthday, does this mean you are suddenly head of this business? No, of course not, you have to actively accept the position, you may have decided to join the Peace Corp and are romping around on the African Continent somewhere instead and reject the ‘predestined offer’ (I’ve seen movies about stuff like this).
The way I see it, predestination is an ‘offer’ to those that aren’t worthy (all of humanity…all of us), through His grace, to join Him in Glory Land. We may have a place set for us at The Lord’s banquet table, but unless we show up and take our seat and grab the awesome and spectacularly beautiful flatware laid out before us, we don’t get to share in the banquet, therefore we have to accept the offer to receive it.
Or, if you want to look at it this way, predestination, in my opinion, is sorta like a conditional covenant with all mankind, where we are active participants in fulfilling that covenant (free will on our part).
Predestination is of The Father, free will is of man.
Just my thought process, Jim
7-26-11
jimbussell 