Oct 10

One of the deepest verses in all of Scripture is Acts 15:18, but that deepness is lost in some modern translations, so it is given here in the King James version, which seems to more accurately reflect the meaning of the original Greek: "Known unto God are all his deeds from all eternity."

As was noted previously, God is not bound by time. He created it; time is bound to do what he created it for. If God did not know all that is going to happen in what we call the future, he would not be God. So God knows all his deeds from all eternity.

How this can be true while at the same time it also be true that you and I have free will and can go against this will of God is a mystery that we do not fully understand. But it is something that we can and do live under.

Free will and God's eternal foreknowledge exist together. Rather than try to argue against this seeming contradiction (to some), how much better to accept it and trust God that we really do have freedom to alter reality by our actions of free will, and yet still have the final outcome be that which God originally intended all along.

The disciples understood this necessity. When their Lord was crucified, thus seeming to put an end to God's plan by the free-willed actions of men, they said that these men had done "what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen" (Acts 4:28).

So, did they then collapse in defeat and say that their own actions had no meaning because God had already decided what should happen? No. Instead, they renewed their faith in the infinite wisdom and power of God and went ahead with acts of their own, but in accord with this wisdom of God.

One group opposed God by their free will; the other agreed with God. It is interesting that both of these alternatives are found in the book of Acts. The acts of men are truly free -- but in the end it is the acts of God that will prevail. The only question is whether or not we will have decided to be on the winning side.

Scripture for today: Acts 2:23-31
Thought for today: The free-willed acts of men cannot alter the ultimate fulfillment of God's acts and plan.
Prayer for today: Almighty God, I stand in awe that your plans and purposes cannot be altered by the free-willed acts of those who oppose you. I stand in even more awe that you give me the awesome privilege of participating in your plans of my own free will.

OCT 10