This is the astounding essence of omniscience and omnipresence. Confusion arises when we try to appreciate these facts entirely from the temporal perspective, but when the believer steps off the island of time and into the ocean of eternity, the eternal perspective resolves all confusion! This is the point that Paul strove to make to the Corinthian believers, many of whom were caught up in the lusts of this life, when he told them to
. . . look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal, because the light afflictions of this temporary life in time are producing eternal glory. (2 Corinthians 4:18, 17—this author’s paraphrase).
The struggles and tribulations that believers faithfully endure for the sake of telling others about Christ in the course of this quarantine facility of time are proof of the eternally known fact that they are chosen before the beginning of time by God, Who simultaneously chooses and confirms them after the end of time. Though paradoxical from the temporal perspective, this makes perfect sense from the eternal perspective and with Scriptural statements that Jesus Christ is presently and continuously the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 21:6, 22:13), because God is sovereign over time! Though time-bound men are incredulous at this, God reminds them,
. . . My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9).
In other words, the eternal perspective is different from the temporal because the eternal surrounds and transcends the temporal and is the context of the temporal.
Thus there is no contradiction of divine predestination with the saints’ freely willing, or unbelievers freely not willing, to trust God and persevere in time. This paradox is reconciled by God’s eternal perspective outside of time. God is good all the time and God does not change.
For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6)
God’s eternal patience and love are the reason for humanity’s continued existence. God’s unchanging love is our hope. Change is inevitable in time, and it is the nature of all things and persons trapped in time to change, grow old and diminish in vitality unto death. But this is not the case in eternity where it is accurately proclaimed that
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The eternal perspective of the unchanging Holy I AM is such that He cannot help but know all at once—in one unified omniscient and omnipresent frame of His eternal Mind—the totality of every human life. This is the basis of His all-encompassing and absolute fairness.
If He chooses us from “before the beginning” of the world, He necessarily chooses us from “after the end” of the world, because both are constantly and intimately familiar in His Eternal Mind. He chooses us once in eternity, comprehending all the choices we have made, are making and ever will make in time as well as our hearts’ motives and desires. God is always a giver and never a taker. Therefore He gives us the desires of our hearts whatever they may be.
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. (Romans 1:24) (Underline emphasis added.)
God gives us what we desire most, whether we desire Him or whether we desire this time-cursed natural world. If our language says that God has pre-destined us, then we may rest assured that He has also post-destined us, and that He currently is destining us to salvation. For He is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance, as seen in the very same passage that reveals His unique eternal perspective.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. (2 Peter 3:8)
God’s grace has provided all, but He is too loving and too gracious to force Himself upon us, either to save or to condemn. God is love, and love gives freedom. He is giving us freedom to love His grace from within the prison of space-time as we respond to the ongoing comforting ministry of His Holy Spirit. And He is giving us freedom not to love Him. God chooses Israel to be His special people, but not all Israel is saved.
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; (Romans 9:6)
Therefore we need not fear that we have no choice in the matter of our eternal destiny or that we are condemned unfairly or redeemed arbitrarily. Rather, we may be confident that God Who pre-destines is the same unchanging One Who is at the destination and that His perfect love, grace, omniscience and omnipresence encompass our entire timescape, our wills and our hearts desires in His consummate grace, kindness and justice.
What we need to do is to cast aside vain temporal arguments and recognize His love, respond to His Holy Word, which He has so providentially given, and, like little children, trust His omniscient wisdom and constant abiding presence. We need to submit our common sense temporal prejudices to His omniscient and omnipresent eternal love and grace, just as Jesus proclaimed.
Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. (Mark 10:15)
Then He receives the glory and we reign with Him over His eternal creation, just as He has covenanted from the beginning.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule . . . over all the earth, . . .” (Genesis 1:26-28)
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