“who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” 2Ti1.9
Every year a student will inevitably ask, “If God knew that we were going to sin, why did He make us in the first place?” Throughout history people have ventured many reasons not only in answer to this question but to answer why God would make people at all. The best reply, that I have read to date, and I believe it answers both questions, was put forth by Jonathan Edwards in his “Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World," He writes that there is something about God’s goodness, that inclines it to overflow like a fountain.
We tent to arrogantly assume that life is all about us, when in fact, life is all about the glory and goodness of God. The words above point this out to us. We are told that the goodness of God’s grace is given to us, not because of decisions we have made but because of something God decided before the beginning of time.
I like the analogy which compares all the politicians in Washington to 25,000 ants floating down the Potomac River on a log and each one convinced they are steering it. I believe that we all are infected with that “Invictus” attitude, crediting ourselves as the masters of our fate and the captains of our soul.
And while we should reverence the importance of our choices, it would be best to view them within the boundaries set by a merciful Creator who does not always let us have our own way and who is working all things after the counsel of His own purpose and grace. In the end, I think we will find that our good choices were not the cause of God's grace but the result of it.
3/9/07 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
