Freewill and Predestination.

Recently I had a small but serious discussion with one of my dear friend and brother about freewill and God’s providential will.

Well! The actual story start from way back when, one Sunday, we were coming from Hillvue to campus. I said there are things that we can never understand or know about God fully, like the freewill and predestination. He said it is simple and easy and give me a really convincing theory. In God’s providential will He predestined each and every thing, but for us who don’t know the plan we have a choice to make even though we eventually make the predestined choice. I don’t know if I felt like my pride is broken or if it is my subconscious wisdom, I felt like something is wrong with it. I thought for a second and the first thing that strike me is may be this is a revelation to me by God for all my prayers to tell me the truth and I shouldn’t let Satan tempt me question it. At the same time my second (I don’t know which one is bad and which one is good, so I call first and second) conscience argued what if it is wrong? Do you want to believe something blindly? Question and seek! Moses asked for reconfirmation again and again. So, I thought a while. I asked him does it not sound like God is making us sin. He said Satan couldn’t do anything without God’s permission. It is in His providential will, in the beginning, that God ordained that Satan be. Satan tempts and make us sin under the God’s permission, but it is not God who tempt or make us sin. My next question is so anything we do, even sin or any bad choice, it is God’s ordination. So the people who don’t accept God are doing it because God ordained it so. If they are obeying the God’s ordained plan how are they called the disobedient or the sinful? He said one shouldn’t take the extreme and do what ever they want to do and call it upon God. I was immediately tempted to say isn’t that a question of choice? Well! I didn’t ask that question for I assumed what the answer would be. A week or so later I realized he is a hard core five point Calvinist. I have no problem with Calvin, but I strongly believe no one on the earth, except for Jesus, have known the mysteries of God. May be they mastered the art of explaining the reasons by making an intellectual argument, but no one ever brought the two ends together without denying the other end at one point or the other. So whenever I read a book, I try to draw a fine line by separating topics or arguments that are supported with scripture and arguments drawn from scriptures with the application of Human logic. So I do with the Calvin. But I do believe the five points are true. It is like the condition of necessity and sufficiency of a truth. The points are all necessary, but not sufficient to prove the Doctrine of Truth. Well! I know very too little compared to Calvin to criticize him. Now, again I tried to tell him that make scripture your standard and not Calvin five points, but I messed it up as usual and felt like a fool when he replied saying that Scripture is his standard and Calvin’s points are just the summarized way to know the whole truth. Well! I tried to divert the topic and made another mistake. I said something that lead the topic again to the freewill and predestination. The discussion ended me defeated, I think. Well! at the end, He stood with God planned everything for His glory, He knew the fall, the cross and the resurrection, We didn’t kill Jesus, but we are found guilt in God’s eye for it, God picked in the Beginning who will be saved and who don’t, which in the sense they do what God planned and still some go to hell to suffer for eternity and it glorify God. I see some really good points, but some things really bothered me. He gave me a lot of scriptural references to support His argument. Well! I stood with we can make a choice and if it is Good or Bad it is not ordained by God, but he do have a plan for each one of us which we can not spoil what ever we do and each moment of our life is recorded in his book of life. Our sin (We) killed Jesus. Our prayers change God’s plan for good. I could be wrong and I wish I were. For if I know everything right, I would be God which is a blasphemy or may be I’m correct and that will be God’s grace.

Well! The next two days I tried to get over with it and started reading books about freewill and predestination with no biased ideas. I re read Calvin’s commentaries. I read my systematic theology book. I finally got convinced that Bible directly point at the providential will of God and only predestination. This made me realize why Hinduism believes in what it believes. My quest for the psychology bridge between Vedas and Bible had one thread tide now. I know how God work with simple things to prepare for the future big things. My dream of writing a book explaining how Vedas have evolved from the ideas of Bible and Biblical History will one day be blessed and will show the light unto the whole India and so the world. Well! May be he had other plans to use this. I do believe that God reveal his plans before they happen.

Well! Then I tried to contradict my new belief to refine my stand by finding scriptures to support freewill. I found two. Well! They can still be interpreted as predestination. So, finally I gave up and fell to my knees and prayed. How powerful and wonderful is it. How did I miss it all this time? Why haven’t I done that before? ( I don’t mean I was not praying everyday, but I was not praying to give me wisdom to understand this, may be I was being proud to do that) As I was talking to God, he started taking to me back. I heard this voice saying if I’m the voice whom are you listening to? I first didn’t understand the question. I tried to figure out. I gave up too soon for I know better and asked God to talk to me and told Him that I want to listen to Him. I didn’t remember clearly now if it was the voice or it occurred in my mind, but suddenly the whole Bible stories played before my eyes and all the verses I read been read to me. Well looked all overlapping and fading, but one thought sparked a light that hit my forehead. The thought of how people have been disobeying God and how he has been calling them to turn back. If they are all doing what God planned as predestined, why is God calling them to turn away? Doesn’t He know what He planned? Well! It is clearly talking about freewill and choice. May be not directly, but clearly. How is God glorified when you do what He makes you do and He sends you to hell? Where is God’s love and forgiveness? What did Jesus die for? Just for God’s plan? So do you call it death? How compassionate the cross and resurrection is if it is just a plan and not reality. May be I’m asking some ridiculous questions, but these are the questions that strike my brain on revelation. It made me fell down to my completely with tears in my eyes and the only words I said is ‘God you are awesome!’

Yet! I woke up with no clear answer to the question, but with a much better understanding of where I should stand and why.

It doesn’t matter if you choose or it is predestined, as long as you have a choice, you have hope and as long as you have breath you have a choice. The choice can be good or bad, it had consequences and you need to take the responsibility.

The Story

Jesus Christ
...was the firstborn,
sacrificed so that men might find hope and salvation.

.

Once upon a time there was a man named Jesus. He walked the earth.

He showed tolerance unto others because he lived as a man and experienced all the temptations and sufferings that men went through in life. He knew how hard life could be on us all sometimes - and gave respect to the struggles each man must overcome in his own personal walk through life. He didn't judge others according to their weaknesses or misunderstandings.

He went out boldly in His life - giving hope unto others - dedicating His life to teaching men things that they often did not understand, nor even in their present state wish to know. No obstacle was great enough to discourage Him.

He was kind to those who were often unkind to Him, and He taught them with gentleness. He was patient and suffered long in His ministering to those in whom he found loneliness, hurt, sickness and sorrow - always in the hope that eventually they would finally see and hear the truth of His message.

He was meek and lowly of heart - never lifting Himself up pridefully, but always delivering His message - although sometimes firm and harshly to those that resisted.

He had great temperance - always saying or doing the right thing at the right time - even though it often did not fulfill His personal desires, nor bring Him immediate reward.

He walked in peace, never lifting a hand in violence towards another - and this spirit of peace was at His command - even allowing Him to still the forces of nature in the bringing of calm and tranquility to men's lives.

The joy of His life was apparent to all those that followed Him - an abundance of joy in the little things of life, such as laughing and playing with little children, which gave Him strength to carry on - and attracted others to Him - wondering and desiring this for themselves, curious as to how this man found so much happiness, when He had no riches nor earthly possessions.

He was faithful to the Spirit He called His Father, GOD. He spoke and did all the things that he heard and was commanded - though at times these things were hard.

He was sent to teach men love. His Father, the Father of all men, sent Him into the world to show His other children how to live. He was the firstborn child of God, and God gave Him command over His complete inheritance. Without limitation God gave His son Tolerance, Boldness, Kindness, Gentleness, Patience, Meekness, Temperance, Peace, Joy, Faithfulness and Love. This was the fullness of God's nature, and it was Good.

This man lived His life giving these aspects of His life unto others. He was followed by many. They worshipped Him. But this man walked on a path that others could not follow Him on at the time. He was shown His end - and prophesied three times that He must die. He was fully aware of what must be. He was a man. He felt the blows to His face, and the lashes to His back. As they tied him to a wooden cross and took metal spikes and drove them through His hands and feet - He felt the same pain you would feel. When they paraded Him beaten through the streets, through a jeering, mocking crowd - he felt the same shame and humiliation that all men feel, when those they loved - turn against them. When He asked for water and they daubed His lips with vinegar - he felt the hopelessness of men's cruelty.

He looked up to the heaven's - and He asked His father to forgive you.

And then he died.

God honored His promise to this man, and raised him up from the dead. He gave him his reward and gave him authority to rule over all things in heaven and earth.

It is written that God gave this man His Spirit without measure. His Spirit is His nature, and it is His name. Let His nature be yours.

Call on Jesus - and He will send you the Spirit of God. He will heal your hurts. He is the Lord our Righteousness - the fulfilled nature of God.

I love Him so very much, for when I was down and out - He lifted me up and brought me in.

If any of you have ever felt the hopelessness, depression and despair that you might imagine I did - then call on Jesus Christ. You have nothing to lose. I've been there. All I had left to lose was my life - and it was as a curse to me. I cannot explain it to you. Every man finds the Lord alone - in the proper time, and in his own journey. Do not consider the teachings of religion, nor the teachings of men - for they will not help you. Call on the Lord with a humble and broken heart. Simply talk. Pour out your heart. Whisper it in tears - or scream and sob it in anger. But as you get it out - you must come to a decision in your heart that you will change your life into a life of love - of kindness and caring, trust and honor. Even if you don't believe, say you want to. Call on the Lord. Ask the spirit of Jesus Christ to come into your life. Invite him in, and He will fill you with a comforting light, and wash you as a gentle cleansing rain.

You will receive a new sense of purpose and hope. I can't explain it. It's just as if all the fears and shames and failures of your life up to this point were simply washed away - and ceased to exist. Some call it "Being Born Again." It's for all of us that wish we could have another chance - a way to start over fresh. And it works.

The Christian church will teach you that your sins are completely dead in that instant. This is true. Many will also tell you that you are guaranteed an eternal life in heaven, that all your problems are over, and that you will never have the urge to sin again. But that's not true. You don't have to look far to find a host of hypocrites and sinners, many standing behind the pulpits of the Christian church, who simply sold the promise out (or never actually received it) - and returned to their old lives - as dogs to their vomit.

It's just a free gift of mercy - a starting over - a new beginning. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God. He was a sacrifice, and He died willingly out of His love for you - to give you this new beginning, and to restore your hope. He was the most wonderful and loving man that ever lived, and He was the firstborn son of God.

The gift is free, and it is yours to receive - or to refuse. But having received it - you will have to follow in his footsteps. There will be suffering - but it will be so much more bearable than before. There will be temptations, but they will be so much easier to turn from. And in the midst of it all you will find new friendships you didn't believe were possible, trust from others you once thought you didn't deserve, and a new peace in your life.

As I said earlier - I can't explain it. It's a one-on-one thing, between an individual and God.

There is an eternal life - and there is an eternal hell - and there is more than one kind of death. For years I walked around living and breathing, but I was dead inside - cold and without joy.

Jesus walked willingly to the pain, suffering and humiliation of the cross with a promise from His Father (our Father) God. Don't be fooled. He knew what was coming. They beat him unmercifully. He was nailed to a tree, with great spikes through his hands and feet, and hung up to die. He did this because He believed He had a promise, and because He was willing to do it for you - because of His love.

God honored that promise, and Jesus rose from the dead. His death and resurrection is symbolic of the same promise you have. First, you can rise fresh in THIS VERY LIFE. The additional promise of an eternal life isn't bad either, but for me it was enough just to get a fresh start in this one, and I am telling you it works.

You have already suffered in your own ways. Start over and choose a life worthy of living forever. You will get out of it what you put into it. But the New Beginning, complete with Hope, Joy, Love and Peace and more - you can get for free. Call on the Lord. Ask the spirit of God to come into your life. Invite him in. What do you have to lose by trying?

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Do you know someone who could use hope? A fresh start?
Sometimes simply gently planting a seed is enough.
Send them a link to http://www.themountainsvoice.net/0004.htm

A Happy Birthday!

Remember My Birthday????

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday.
Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did
for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The
decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.


In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me.

Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were
drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time.

To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor !


At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and .... do you know ... no one hugged me.

Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.
What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse.

People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me.

I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life.

I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.

I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will
make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside.

Do you know how you can answer this invitation?

it is by extending it to others whom you care for...


I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this
year... See you soon .... I love you !

- Jesus