THE PREDETERMINED WILL OF GOD
by Erwin Bourne—March 22, 2002
Predestination is a difficult, Biblical study. The
word “predestined” can be used synonymously with the
word “ordained.” What God knew long ago does not
interfere with man’s human choices. God simply
foreknew what man would do, and what was going to take
place in the future. Every person remains a
“free-moral agent.” For instance, God’s foreknowledge
tells Him whether one will be saved or lost, but this
does not determine the destiny of the soul.. Now
notice our text for this study: But have you not
heard? It was I, the Lord, who decided this long ago.
Long ago I planned what I am now causing to happen
(II Kings 19:25).
God has a drawing table. It is in His planning room
of predestination. He doesn’t think like a man does.
He uses His foreknowledge. Time isn’t an element. In
an undivided moment of time, he put the spots on the
leopard, the stripes on the zebra, the horn on the
rhinoceros. These creatures had no choice in the
matter. There’s the thousand-legger, the long-necked
giraffe, the maldeformed hyena. But God made man a
living soul.
I like to think about—only once did God return to the
drawing table. Adam had been formed out of the dust
of the earth. But God breathed into his nostrils and
man became a living soul. Then God looked over all he
had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every
way (Genesis 1:31 NLT). But Adam had no mate. He had
been placed in God’s garden to work and care for it,
but God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18
NLT). Adam gave names to
all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the
beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper
was found (Genesis. 2:20 NLT).
And NOW! “At last!” Adam exclaimed…. “She will be
called ‘woman’” It was I, the Lord, who decided this
long ago. Long ago I planned what I am now causing to
happen (II Kings 19:25). I first came to Huila,
Colombia, in 1982. That was the same year Ivàn Porras
bought the former Casa Grande in Leticia. The present
Casa Grande has been the Mission AMA base for the past
2½ years. What has God planned for the near future?
—Erwin and Jean Bourne