Predestination
Today we are going to talk about predestination. First of all I want to just clarify some of the inconsistencies about it and then have a quick look at our final destiny! Now I know that this can be a challenging question for some. And the issue normally revolves around the fact that so many, including some very prominent preachers, believe that free will and predestination are mutually exclusive. In other words if you are predestined to something, you have no free will in the choice. Predestiny is totally biblical as we will see, BUT does that mean we don’t really have free will? Today I would like to show you that they are not mutually exclusive. God has given us choice in life, He does not force anything on us and that does not mean that the sovereignty of God is in any doubt at all. God is sovereign! Predestination does not result in any contradictions in the bible or things that are difficult for us to accept.
Ephesians 1:11-12 New International Version
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
I am sure we all know, and its important to know, that it was not by our own effort or knowledge or works that we came to know His saving grace. No, its by the calling of His Holy Spirit! He did it all.
Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
So clearly the knowledge of the Jesus and the Father has been revealed to the church of believers and the eyes of our hearts were opened by the Holy Spirit. And we received it, we repented and accepted Jesus into our life. It begins with God!
But if God chooses beforehand who He will save and not save, as many think predestiny is, then what about those He does not choose or how would you reconcile the fact that He would like all men saved
1 Timothy 2:1-5 New International Version
2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
So you can see the problem some people have on the one hand we have “we were chosen, having been predestined according to His plan….” while on the other hand “He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”.
Its not as difficult a problem as it seems, when we remember that pre-destination or preparing a destination, is not the same as pre-determination. The difference between predestination or pre-determination is; on the one hand, this is what I have prepared for you vs this is what I have determined and will happen.
There is no “golden ticket” to being chosen without you receiving it and believing in Him and in so doing being born again of the Spirit. There are options and choices in life, remember Deut 28- “if you obey…
Deuteronomy 28:1 New International Version
28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.
Deuteronomy 28:15 New International Version
15 However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
So there are different paths you can follow in life, depending on how you respond. We have choices to make in life! And we have control of those choices. If you’re not convinced we have choices to make look at…
Genesis 4:6-7 New International Version
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
We are not a bystander to what is happening in our lives.
To give you a better example I need to tell you a little about pottery. I am no expert, but it can be broadly divided into 3 categories depending on the clay type and heating process: earthenware, Stoneware and Porcelain. Each of those goes through a process of vitrification or heating. Earthenware at about 1000C, Stoneware about 1200C and Porcelain >1250C. This heating process decreases the porosity of the clay. The properties of the clay are vitally important. One key factor is clearly the plasticity of the clay to be able to mold it into a shape. Clay has to be malleable. The other important factor is strength of the clay. It has to be able to hold its shape. It has to have this fortitude if you like. What some potters do is they add what is strangely known as “grog”, fine granular pebble like particles of pre-fired clay of about 0.2-1.5mmm in diameter to give the clay added strength and aid in reducing the shrinking of clay in a kiln. Now if the clay does not have the key properties of sufficient plasticity or fortitude or even if its on the wheel too long and you then add is too much water, you cannot make the ornate design you may want to
With that in mind lets read
Jeremiah 18 New International Version
18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
There are a great many parallels there aren’t there? The potter has this ornate piece in mind, but the clay does not have the malleability or the fortitude or the “stickability” if you like, to stand firm to become what is planned. Somehow the clay has become marred, spoilt. So the potter makes another pot shaping it as best He can.
This is an image of predestiny.
Note that in vs7:
7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
We are not puppets- we have choices to make in life. We are predestined to glory, but we must accept it! We can change destiny by repentance and prayer!
But this all applies to our destiny of a life on earth, and its almost always a destiny of service to God. We are destined to great things serving God here on earth in whatever way Having said that we know that there is an eternal destiny for all believers, Jesus said He goes to prepare a place for you… John 3:16 reminds us
6 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
And we will have a look at that destiny in a minute.
But right now, the God has a plan for everyone of us, and we read in 1 Corinthians 2:9
.. no eye has seen,…. no ear has heard,…. no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him
But we need to receive it and make the right choices in life. So how do we do this? Back to basics is the answer!
We get into the word of God. Don’t accept every teaching that you see on Facebook, Twitter, TV programs, YouTube, no matter how famous a teacher. We can end up spending more time listening to someone’s interpretation rather than getting it from the source itself!
God speaks through His word. So we need to memorise some of the scripture. I guarantee you that if you memorise only a couple of verses and you do this by repetition, God will speak to you through them. I know this from experience
Prayer-pray- pray-pray! Talk to Him who shapes your destiny!
Lets not get caught up in focussing on the small stuff or speculation
Titus 3:9 New International Version
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
Our knowledge is so imperfect but God says, my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in your weakness. Don’t worry about what might or might not be, just abide in Him and you will find rest.
Do all this and you will find that “hope to which He has called you, you will find the richness of His glorious inheritance and you will experience His incomparably great power available for those who believe”
Finally, I just want to give you a picture of our eternal destiny, heaven, that I think is pictured so beautifully in Hebrews and I’m going to paraphrase Hebrews 12:18-24;
In heaven you will not come to a place that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; or to a voice speaking such that when you heard the voice you will beg that no further word be spoken, because you could not bear what was commanded: or where you tremble with fear
NO- you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood of Jesus
AND-Because In him you were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,…… AND BECAUSE When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance until the redemption of all in God’s possession to his glory!
You have a destiny that is steadfast and certain, that is better than anything you can ever imagine!
Amen!