As we think about the glorious and spiritual blessings that God has blessed us with in Christ, we move on to PREDESTINATION. One of the most unfortunate battles that has raged in the church over the centuries surrounds this word (and the last...ELECTION!). Why?
- A deep jealousy for the exaltation of man in his salvation. Because of the man-centeredness that sin brings to the human heart, man wants to retain some myth of control over his ultimate destiny. We do not naturally want God to be in control of our salvation any more than we want Him to be in control over our daily life. We would be lord, at any cost. But Jonah's cry is the heart of all biblical salvation theology: "Salvation belongs to the Lord" Jonah 2:9.
- A misunderstanding of what PREDESTINATION by God is all about. So often the mental images that come with the mention of predestination are things like: "It's not fair. If God predestined some for heaven just because He wanted to, then it means He predestined the rest of mankind to hell, just because He wanted to. Therefore, those not predestined have no choice. They are locked into unbelief and hell. Where is the fairness in that?" What this kind of "reasonable" and "rational" thinking does is to turn a doctrine Scripture intends to bring great glory to God into something that impugns His holiness. The Bible would have us see that ALL have sinned... willingly, rebelliously, and culpably (that is, with FULL responsibility for their sin) and therefore ALL justly and FAIRLY deserve hell. However, in rich and unfathomable mercy God has chosen some (and a very "large" some, at that) to be rescued from their deserved place in hell, by sheer grace, to a place in His family in heaven forever. He is infinitely JUST, so why not give all their just reward...hell? Because He is also infinitely MERCIFUL, and delights from the overflow of His nature to choose for some a destiny that is infinitely opposite to what they FAIRLY deserve.
Predestination means that God, in free, sovereign grace, has chosen a destiny for us believers, through His Son...the destiny of SONS. Predestine means to appoint ahead of time to a position. This position for us is to have the full inheritance and rights of natural born children, even though we were ADOPTED.
It is well attested that in the Roman world of Paul's day, when a man adopted a son he was LEGALLY giving that son the name, privileges, and possessions of a natural born son. An adopted son was not a 2nd class, back of the bus, bottom of the list child. He was being given EVERYTHING that belonged to His father. THIS is the destiny God has chosen for us...from eternity...to eternity. We are NOW the children of God (1 John 3:1) and enjoy the first tastes of all that is our Father's. But there is MORE to come. "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Brothers and sisters, we "are joint heirs with Christ" Romans 8:17. Him with whom we share this full-family status purchased it for us through His perfect life and redemptive suffering.
Think of this, as well. God did not hesitantly choose this destiny for us. It was His GOOD PLEASURE...He did it in love. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:32
Therefore, let us BELIEVE this is our destiny. Let us see ourselves as the Father does, full fledged sons and daughters through the SON. Let us go to our Father with "boldness and...confidence" Ephesians 3:12. When we go to God with our needs, we are asking for what is ALREADY OURS. The Father was pleased to choose this destiny for us, the destiny of those who are joyfully given all the Father is and has.
And let us PRAISE Him. He predestined us to adoption..."to the PRAISE of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved" Ephesians 1:6
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