Fabulous Foreknowledge
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate , them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” — Romans 8:29-30
This scripture always bothered me. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out how it tied in with the free will God has so clearly given us. But with help from others and my own insights, I think I am finally getting a grasp of how well it does fit in, and how cool the whole concept is. Now I have a hard time understanding how this wasn’t clear before. God’s truths are usually so simple once He reveals them to us. Here is my understanding of the foreknowledge of God:
God is above all and over all; He knows all. He is not contained by time, but He sees all of it. God does not predestinate things in the sense that He decides for us whether we will obey his commandments or not, and therefore our eternal salvation. That is up to us. Philippians 2:12 teaches that as we obey God, we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Why then does Romans 8:29 say what it says? The word “foreknowledge” is the key. Foreknowledge means to have knowledge or be aware of something that is going to happen before it occurs. God knows all the choices you and I will make. He has predestined things, circumstances, confrontations with the truth, etc. He has done this so that these things will conform us to the image of His son, in order that whom He called, He can justify and eventually glorify.
The bottom line is: there will be a church. There will be a bride of Christ. Someone will do great exploits for the Lord. Will you be part of it? Will I be part of it? It’s up to us. God has great plans for us, but if we’re not willing to do it the way He wants it to be done, someone else will. It’s been foreordained to happen. How incredible is it that God has given you and me the chance to do these things for Him. I am resolute that I will do my part in God’s kingdom. Are you?
Foreknowledge is why no one person is essential to the plans of God. Anyone alive today could walk away from God and there would not be one bead of sweat on God’s forehead about how to replace them. I believe God has great deeds in store for each and every one of us. But if I am not willing, someone will do them. God will not be without a bride.
This is the thing that is so exciting about foreknowledge. He knows what good choices we are going to make, but He also knows the failures we will experience. He even knows whether or not someone will backslide and rebel against Him. Yet He will still throw chance after chance at them, for them to make that right choice. He will send person after person to encourage a struggling individual, because He is not willing that any should perish. That’s how loving and merciful He is. Don’t worry about failing: He knew you would at some point, and He still died for you. He willingly died for millions of people who He knew would laugh at His very existence. Who wouldn’t be excited about serving a God like that?
Is it reassuring to know that God knows your actions before you take them, or is it uncomfortable? What is your personal understanding of foreknowledge, and how does it inform your life? I know you’ll be able to share a comment or two!
It’s definitely reassuring to me that whatever God is doing in my life right now, He knows what the effects will be. Most things are out of my control anyway, so there’s a great comfort in knowing that He knows what I should do, and that He will tell me what to do: if I am obedient, He will predestine me to accomplish the right things.
You tackled a tough one and did a good job of framing the issue. You’re right, God’s foreknowledge is not a sentence, it is a comfort. It is a key concept we must get in order to truly rest in Him.
You’re doing a great service by sharing these insights.