Predestination? Hhhmmmmm!

predestination |prēˌdestəˈnā sh ən|
noun
(as a doctrine in Christian theology) the divine foreordaining of all that will happen, esp. with regard to the salvation of some and not others. It has been particularly associated with the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo and of Calvin.
ORIGIN Middle English : from ecclesiastical Latin praedestinatio(n-), from praedestinare ‘make firm beforehand’ (see predestinate ).

I had this real, deep, philosophical idea in my head about what this meant, predestination that is. Then I looked it up and found this. What you see in the definition above. In part it is a bit of what I thought but then the whole translation/origin piece came up and it made me think twice.

This is one of the harder pieces of doctrine and belief for many, myself included. In part I think that the idea of predestination is comforting. To think that God knew, He planned it from the beginning both literally and figuratively. Of coarse He planned how it would all come to be. Heaven and earth, land and the sea, day and night and on and on. But also all the days of my life and yours! Predestination says that He knew them all already and knows them all before me. In part I find comfort in that. How can I worry, how can I give into doubt and fear? God holds me in the palm of His hand. He knows every hair on my head, He is my creator! So the idea of predestination should not surprise me, my God is awesome, of coarse He knows all the days of my life!

This is my snare; we have on one hand, predestination, and on the other, free will. Can they coexist peacefully? Can you actually have both? If I am predestined by the will of God to have salvation how can I any longer have free will? His will is certainly greater than mine! So if His plan for me is salvation than I am no longer exercising my own free will in which He gave me.

That definition refers to Augustine and Calvin but I heard about predestination from Paul! He mentions being predestine 4 or 5 times through out his books. Paul is such a dynamic and intelligent character, albeit at times boarder-line schizophrenic, non the less much more understanding of the teachings of Christ than most of his contemporaries. Still he finds it of enough value to mention it in his letters to both the Romans and Ephesians.

But what does it mean to me? I don't know! I don't entertain divisive ideas and arguments but rather seek understanding and comfort. Even still I do question things, it wouldn't be natural to not do so, but in doing so I am only trying to seek understanding. So if predestination is, as Paul states, a very real ideology, I want to know about it and if not believe, at least, understand.

So I read this passage; "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," This is from Ephesians 1:11. And this "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." From Romans; "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

It's just a few lines but the underlying idea or belief in a pre-designed plan of God is very prevalent. In delving a little deeper you can look at prophetic fulfillment, the majority of the book of Isaiah; at least four world religions rely on this book to support their beliefs; regardless of which one you believe, the idea of predestination comes to life! Isaiah already said that God said this would happen, what ever it may be, and it is fulfilled through which ever specific religion that you adhere to. There is certainly no doubt Isaiah was a prophet and spoke God's word- even if the four different religions don't believe each other, but rather still believe in Isaiah's words, then he's the real deal. That being said, he was foretold what was going to come, and it did. So why would predestination be so far out of whack? Is it?

If the whole idea, or what Paul refers to as a spiritual gift, of "prophesy" is real and true (and I believe it is) then that would be in kind, proof positive of predestination. God puts (as Jeremiah says) His words into the prophets mouth to speak to the people, to warn and advise them of what is to come!! Hello? God has a master plan, prophets are His mouth piece, and even when we don't believe the messenger, God certainly does reveal His message. Of what is, what was, and what is to come!

That is part of what I find certain and satisfying about believing in predestination. I know what God has delivered me from so far! It makes me really trust His judgement. As well as look forward to each day that I get here on earth and to see what He has in store for me.

So maybe I don't have as much of a problem with believing in predestination as I originally thought. Maybe excercising my own free will isn't as gratifying as seeking after His. That must be part of being human, the thinking that we actually exercise control in life when the truth is control is as real as fiction!

I know that God has a plan for my life, I also know that I have to be open and willing to His plan. Maybe free will isn't all it's cracked up to be! So far I am pretty pleased with what God has planned for me rather than the plans I made for myself!

I think there just may be some validity in Paul's four verses, what do you think? Is it our plan..........or His?