Q1) Why does God call some and leave others to perish?
A1) John 3:16 says that God doesn’t want ANY to perish. God does not actually send anybody to hell. God gives us a choice, and many choose hell. God went so far out of his way to assure we can be saved that he gave of himself, in the form of his only son, to die a terrible death, to pay the price of our salvation.
Q2) How can I choose if God already has called me to him?
A2) There are those in the christian churches that believe that some are chosen for salvation, while others have been chosen for condemnation. This is a false doctrine. When some refer to “predestination” they interpret it to mean that God chose us, instead of us choosing God. But what this really means is that God knew before hand that we would chose him, so he has prepared the way for us to serve him on earth as a result. (See the book of Romans)
God is timeless. So he sees tomorrow the same way we remember yesterday, or the way we exist in today. All time is right now for God. So before we were even born, God knew we would one day choose to love and serve him. This does not take away my choice to love God. If I remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday, it does not mean I didn’t choose that meal option. (maybe a bad example for a guy in jail, but you know what I mean). In this same way, when God sees what I will do tomorrow, this does not mean I wont make that choice. It is just that he is watching me do it before I do it from my perspective in time.
So we do choose God, and we choose to walk away from him too.
Q3) If God chooses not to call some people, how can they be blamed for something they had no control over?
A3) God has offered his salvation to all mankind. Even those who have no opportunity to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ are able to be saved by faith in Christ because God will reach all of the lost by many different means. The scriptures say that creation itself speaks to the reality of a creator, so it is tough to look at life on earth and not imagine a designer. Once one begins to seek in faith to know that designer, God will reveal himself. I personally know a man who had no access to the Bible or missionaries in his small town in Africa, but when he sought God, he had a vision that revealed all this man needed to know to be saved. This was not a thousand years ago in a distant story, this is somebody I know today. I have also heard of Muslims and Jews in the middle east coming to Christ because of dreams.
The condemned desired a life with out Christ on earth, so God will not force himself on these people in eternity either. Those people miss out on a full life here on earth with Christ in their hearts, and so it is no surprise that life in eternity is much worse in hell with out Gods presence.
Q4) It says in the bible that God knows everything before it happens. If humans know this then surely the angels and x-angels know this. In job, the devil has a conversation with God about jobs commitment to God. He asks permission to test job and God agrees. What’s the point of the story if the devil already knows that God knows what is going to happen? Why would the conversation even go that far if everyone knows God knows the future and the inside of every mans heart?
A4) The devil is aware of how the story ends in the Bible as well, and in fact may understand it better then we do. However the devil is a proud creature. He was kicked out of Gods grace because of his pride in fact. Now think about the proud people you know, or the times when pride dictated your actions in your own life. I can relate to this as well. There are times when we can be so narrow minded because of our hurt pride, that we refuse to accept a reality, and make damaging decisions. Also, our pride can result in us making spiteful decisions just for the sake of hurting the person who hurt our pride.
I expect the devil is actively working against God and Gods people just to spite Him. If the devil can tempt souls to forsake the free salvation offered to us by God, then it reminds me of a child saying “if I cant have it, nobody can. I would rather destroy it then see you enjoy it”. The devil just wants to take as much love away from God as possible just to be spiteful as a result of his pride.
Q5) Why would God let a man be tortured if he already knows his commitment?
A5) Our trials produce character. (James 1) What the devil and Job didn’t realize is that this trial resulted in Job becoming a gangster in eternity. Its like he was doing spiritual push ups while he endured these issues. It may have seemed terrible to Job at the time, but these momentary afflictions pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us in eternity. Eternity is a long time, so Job may have realized how insignificant all that would feel 10,000 years from now. Especially if he is rocking a few more jewels in his crown, or has a few extra rooms in his heavenly mansion as a result.
2 Corinthians 4:17
Q6) Doesn’t this seem like a contradiction of everything we are taught?
A6) Not if we look at it from Gods perspective. God was blessing Job, though it didn’t seem like it to Job at the time, nor did the devil realize that his evil was being used for the good of the man who loved God. Romans 8:28
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