- Dec 21, 2013
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I understand what you're saying here. I agree with you that a lot of bad comes from men choosing evil. However, I wouldn't like the idea of men with such power going unchecked. But I take comfort in knowing that the only power that anyone or anything has to do something comes from God and that no action is beyond His control, understanding, or outside of His inevitable goal. All things happen according to God's divine plan even if we cannot fathom or see the potential good that can come out of things like sickness, divorce, or war.Doug, are you sure you want God to be the author of ALL things? That would include every sin, sickness, disease, war, false religion, divorce, evil empire, and false god. I myself would rather not attribute any of these things, in any way, to God. I see these things coming from man's freedom of choice between good and evil. Man, through his choice of evil, is the first cause of these things.
Of course I understand. No man wants to think his wife, kids, parents, siblings or friends are destined not to be His and go to hell. God foreknew/planned/predestined the fall of mankind and the result of it which is death. The same goes for the redemption of mankind as well by the sacrifice of Christ. Knowing that not all, as you say, will choose to live for Christ is it safe to assume that was part of the plan as well? That some are to demonstrate His mercy while others His righteous judgement? This is why we must reach all that we can with the good news that though we are born sinners we are redeemed in Christ. God uses us to reach His people. We must pray for those we care aboutI don't have a problem with God 'planning' for some to attain heaven. However, when man says God 'planned' for some to go to hell, without any recourse, and leaving them to themselves, I begin to have huge problems. Hopefully you can understand why I feel this way.
But can God not use this time to develop a person to bring out a unique perspective? My wife and I are vastly different in our upbringing, her growing up in church knowing God since she was 9 and me not knowing God until I was 30. This combination provides great opportunities for ministry within my family and those around us.I don't believe God 'planned' for any man to have sin rule and ruin his life. We are told time after time in the Bible for man to forsake, remove, cast away, flee, depart from, and repent of his sin. To me, this is God's will and plan for man. Those who heed these life-giving words from God now have a plan for good, love, faith, and heaven for their lives.
God has planned this for most, I agree. Each individual experiencing the Lord in different ways. All bringing their purpose into the whole body, fulfilling His plan. However, He also uses the unbelievers for His purposes as well.God's plan from the beginning is to have man released from the bondage of sin, have man turn to God, and for man to live and enjoy the blessings and triumphs of a righteous life. No luck, no coincidence, and no chance.
I completely agree with you. Thank you for giving me your take on God's plan and I pray also for your growth in understanding.Every man who chooses to live for God will go through trials and temptations. Enduring temptations prove you have overcome and defeated the sin in your life. Failing temptations will not send one to hell, for we all fail at one time or another. However, we are not to live in this defeat and have it overcome us. I can guarantee if we fail, that temptation will come again and again, until we either, give in to it, or finally defeat it, with God's help of course.
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