What is Predestination?

The road that leads to eternal life is a narrow and straight road. It is the most important road that has ever existed and it only has one destination. Unfortunately in the real world, it is hardly noticeable and thought to be the road that leads to nowhere, because it by-pass all other destinations. If you look closely at the following drawing, the road leading to eternal life is represented by the narrow but straight green line.

Roadmap to Eternity 


 

A subject that never seemed to be fully understood is predestination. What is it? By definition, predestination means to be determined beforehand. Basically, there are two viewpoints concerning predestination. The first viewpoint implies that God has already decided everything about everybody.  According to this belief, God has already determined who will be saved and who will be lost. Man has no choice in anything that he does because God predestines it all. If he is a murderer, it wasn’t his choice; it was God who predestinated it. Man absolutely has no decision-making authority concerning his life. This viewpoint of predestination is a little extreme. For this reason, many individuals needing stability in their lives simply stop trying and say what’s the use, it’s all predestined anyway. They are convinced that they have no choice in any part of their lives; they are like robots, simply following a predetermined program. Believing this viewpoint ultimately mean the following verses should be eliminated from the Bible:

Joh. 3:16         For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

2 Pet. 3:9        The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

 

The second viewpoint concerning predestination is two-fold. This viewpoint acknowledges that God has predestined a road for everyone to follow. It is accessible to all. It is a one-way road. It has only one destination, which is heaven. There are no curves on this road; it is the straight and narrow road. There are no potholes and no stumbling blocks, because God doesn’t want anyone to fail. There are no detours, because this road is always open; never closed and never congested. There are no exit ramps, although one can choose at any time to cross the ditch onto another road seeking pleasure from some of the enticing attractions strategically placed along the way.

 

The second part of this viewpoint is that man isn’t required to follow God’s predestined road. He has the right to choose any road in life that he so desires and there will be no interference from God. He does not force anybody to follow his predestined road. It is entirely up to each and every individual.

 

Yes, in life there will be some distractions along the way, but God does not put them there, 2 Pet. 3:9. All distractions that causes individuals to make a detour off of God’s predestined road are placed there by the devil; 1 Pet. 5:8, “…because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Usually a detour will bring you back to the planned route, but once and individual detours from God’s predestined road, it’s easy for one detour to becomes another detour and etc. These constant detours cause individuals to wander around aimlessly because they are confused and lost. At this point that individual should stop, acknowledge they are lost, acquire a roadmap (Bible) for directions on how to get back on the predestined road that God has so graciously planned for us.

 

The predestined road that God has planned for us has no end although there is a specific destination. When traveling life’s road, it is inevitable that everyone must experience death. Everyone will not travel the same distance because some will live longer than others. There is one important point to remember; it doesn’t matter where or how long an individual has been on God’s predestined road, when death occurs. No one will perish that’s travelling on God’s predestined road at death.

 

Every individual that experiences physical death while on God’s predestined road has reached the predestined destination, which is heaven. On the other hand, an individual that experiences physical death while on a detour, will not reach the predestined destination, which is heaven. God has a predestined place and a predestined road, but to experience it one must be on God’s predestined road at the time of death.

 

In conclusion, predestination is a predetermined road to heaven designed by God. The road to heaven is predestined but the life of an individual is not predestined; it is by choice.