Re: "It must be meant to be!"
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:58 pm
I believe that everything does happen for a reason...God's reason. Otherwise, things would be different.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1)
https://discussions.godandscience.org/
Gotta be careful how far you take that belief. What if I had just gone up to and slapped, beat or killed a man I saw on the street, for no particular reason except that I wanted to. So, would that have happened because I desired to do so and simply caused it myself, or did it happen because God desired that? Does GOD cause sinful actions? Scripture says "No!," that sin is a willful action that springs from the heart, mind and actions of man. Do I have free will within certain parameters or not? I can either obey God or not, right? Now, I can't fly or go invisible, but I can make actions and choices that I am capable of. The very fact that God gave us free will and that we often exercise it by sinning, and that Scripture teaches God hates sin and doesn't cause it, tells me that the mantra of "all things happen for a reason" is ususally said by people who haven't really thought out the implications of that statement.I believe that everything does happen for a reason...God's reason. Otherwise, things would be different.
IF I can sin - and I obviously do - then my free will is no illusion, otherwise God wanted - or worse - CAUSED me to sin. But we know from Scripture that is impossible. And yes, my freely chosen actions have ALWAYS been known by God - meaning, they have FOREVER been known by Him. But will my free actions, sinful or not, impede or change God's ultimate desires for myself, others, this world our universe? Absolutely NOT! I'm guessing many of our actions are basically irrelevant, when it comes to God's plans. Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires. At times, He certainly uses sinful man's actions to further His plans (see Judas Iscariot). But God doesn't micro-manage every single action we do, otherwise we wouldn't really have freedom of will - a telling reflection of some of the attributes of God that He has given man. I don't think God is terribly concerned about what color socks I put on.What you believe to be your free will choice, is already known to God.
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
Does God want some people end in hell?stuartcr wrote:I'm sure God doesn't micro-manage, but since He knows your future actions and He cannot be wrong, then those actions are inevitable, aren't they? We have to do as He knows we will. How else can His will be done?
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
Paul makes it clear that when people have made up their minds that God leaved them to it.1over137 wrote:Does God want some people end in hell?stuartcr wrote:I'm sure God doesn't micro-manage, but since He knows your future actions and He cannot be wrong, then those actions are inevitable, aren't they? We have to do as He knows we will. How else can His will be done?
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
Ok, I will go further with my question that is intended for stuart:PaulSacramento wrote:Paul makes it clear that when people have made up their minds that God leaved them to it.1over137 wrote:Does God want some people end in hell?stuartcr wrote:I'm sure God doesn't micro-manage, but since He knows your future actions and He cannot be wrong, then those actions are inevitable, aren't they? We have to do as He knows we will. How else can His will be done?
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
We can say to God, "Thy will be done" or God can say to us, "Thy will be done".
There is a lesson in that for us here too it seems.
Of course, God wants us in a relationship with Him, that is why He created US and that is why we are only "right" when we are in the relationship.1over137 wrote:Ok, I will go further with my question that is intended for stuart:PaulSacramento wrote:Paul makes it clear that when people have made up their minds that God leaved them to it.1over137 wrote:Does God want some people end in hell?stuartcr wrote:I'm sure God doesn't micro-manage, but since He knows your future actions and He cannot be wrong, then those actions are inevitable, aren't they? We have to do as He knows we will. How else can His will be done?
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
We can say to God, "Thy will be done" or God can say to us, "Thy will be done".
There is a lesson in that for us here too it seems.
Does God want poeple to make up their minds against God?
(1 Timothy 2): "1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."Ok, I will go further with my question that is intended for stuart: Does God want poeple to make up their minds against God?
How could I know that? Besides, I don't believe hell exists.1over137 wrote:Does God want some people end in hell?stuartcr wrote:I'm sure God doesn't micro-manage, but since He knows your future actions and He cannot be wrong, then those actions are inevitable, aren't they? We have to do as He knows we will. How else can His will be done?
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
Some one should have told Jesus that.stuartcr wrote:How could I know that? Besides, I don't believe hell exists.1over137 wrote:Does God want some people end in hell?stuartcr wrote:I'm sure God doesn't micro-manage, but since He knows your future actions and He cannot be wrong, then those actions are inevitable, aren't they? We have to do as He knows we will. How else can His will be done?
That is why I say that everything happens as God wants it to...Certainly no action by a man will change the final outcomes (both now and future) that God so desires.
Jesus believed in a hell.stuartcr wrote:OK, I'm not sure what that means though.