In the beginning… was the end!

Before the first molecule of creation came to be, before time began, everything that would follow was played out in reverse. God knew the end before He ever made the beginning. And He knew what would take place in between it all, right down to the minutest detail.

Psalm 139:15-16: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

He has pre-ordained the moments of our lives right down to the places we would live, and call home.

Acts 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

God created time specifically for us, and therefore He lives outside of it. He exists simultaneously from the beginning to the end and every where in between. I once heard it described as watching a parade. We are on the street watching as it passes by. We can only see what is in front of us and what has already passed us by. But God views the parade from above, where He can simultaneously watch the parade from beginning to end.
I think Solomon understood this, and declared it when he wrote: “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9.

I also think that some in the early church understood this thought of Gods simultaneous existence in time, and thought or hoped that they could convince God by petition to alter history so that their loved ones who had already passed could be prayed for, and by proxy be baptized and saved.

1 Corinthians 15:28-30 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

I don’t believe that God would alter the course of history for them, or anyone else! But then, where does that leave us for our present and our future? If the past is indelibly written in stone, then so must be today, as well as our future! If the course of our life is already written, then where is our choice? In some respects (as it relates to His calling us to be His) we have none. In His sovereignty He decided before it all began, who He was going to call to be His children! But in another sense, just because what is already known has been written, does not mean we did not freely choose for ourselves that which we would do. We all have the choice to be who we want, to be His or not. But none of us have the strength to make the right choice, to choose Him above self, without God first choosing us.

John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…

It is a complete paradox. The Bible tells us that unless He chooses us first, we wouldn’t even pay attention to Him. And if He doesn’t chose us we will first choose ‘self’ over a relationship with Him. Not only that but, not every one He calls will choose Him or be chosen by Him…

Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

So what is the point of all of this? The point is simple! That which will be has already been, and that which has been, forcefully leads us to that which will be. The only variable in the whole lot of it is your mindset. Choosing to do that which has been decided already or rebelling against that which you have no choice in anyway. You will either choose to do the will of your Father as His child, anticipating with joy that which He has in store for you. Or do as you will, while God molds circumstance or time to conform you to His will.

The difference between the two is interminable. One leads to a loving relationship with the Father who loves you completely for all eternity, while the other gives you exactly what you choose. An eternity spent outside of that relationship, on your own… just as you willed.

Both, in places that are befitting of your choice.