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Thought #022
Does God Know
the Future?
From DA 518-521
All the emphasis has been added and some paragraph formatting altered.
Mark 10:17
"And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" {DA 518.1}
The young man who asked this question was a ruler. He had great possessions, and occupied a position of responsibility. He saw the love that Christ manifested toward the children brought to Him; he saw how tenderly He received them, and took them up in His arms, and his heart kindled with love for the Saviour. He felt a desire to be His disciple. He was so deeply moved that as Christ was going on His way, he ran after Him, and kneeling at His feet, asked with sincerity and earnestness the question so important to his soul and to the soul of every human being, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" {DA 518.2}
"Why callest thou Me good?" said Christ, "there is none good but One, that is, God." Jesus desired to test the ruler's sincerity, and to draw from him the way in which he regarded Him as good. Did he realize that the One to whom he was speaking was the Son of God? What was the true sentiment of his heart? {DA 518.3}
This ruler had a high estimate of his own righteousness. He did not really suppose that he was defective in anything, yet he was not altogether satisfied. He felt the want of something that he did not possess. Could not Jesus bless him as He blessed the little children, and satisfy his soul want? {DA 518.4}
In reply to this question Jesus told him that obedience to the commandments of God was necessary if he would obtain eternal life; and He quoted several of the commandments which show man's duty to his fellow men. The ruler's answer was positive: "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" {DA 518.5}
Christ looked into the face of the young man, as if reading his life and searching his character. He loved him, and He hungered to give him that peace and grace and joy which would materially change his character. "One thing thou lackest," He said; "go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." {DA 519.1}
Christ was drawn to this young man. He knew him to be sincere in his assertion, "All these things have I kept from my youth." The Redeemer longed to create in him that discernment which would enable him to see the necessity of heart devotion and Christian goodness. He longed to see in him a humble and contrite heart, conscious of the supreme love to be given to God, and hiding its lack in the perfection of Christ. {DA 519.2}
Jesus saw in this ruler just the help He needed if the young man would become a colaborer with Him in the work of salvation. If he would place himself under Christ's guidance, he would be a power for good. In a marked degree the ruler could have represented Christ; for he possessed qualifications, which, if he were united with the Saviour, would enable him to become a divine force among men.
Christ, seeing into his character [as it was then], loved him. Love for Christ was awakening in the ruler's heart; for love begets love. Jesus longed to see him a co-worker with Him. He longed to make him like Himself, a mirror in which the likeness of God would be reflected. He longed to develop the excellence of his character, and sanctify it to the Master's use. If the ruler had then given himself to Christ, he would have grown in the atmosphere of His presence.
If he had made this choice, how different would have been his future! {DA 519.3}
"One thing thou lackest," Jesus said. "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me."
Christ read the ruler's heart. Only one thing he lacked, but that was a vital principle. He needed the love of God in the soul. This lack, unless supplied, would prove fatal to him; his whole nature would become corrupted. By indulgence, selfishness would strengthen. That he might receive the love of God, his supreme love of self must be surrendered [the two cannot exist together]. {DA 519.4}
Christ gave this man a test.
He called upon him to choose between the heavenly treasure and worldly greatness. The heavenly treasure was assured him if he would follow Christ. But self must yield; his will must be given into Christ's control.
The very holiness of God was offered to the young ruler.
He had the privilege of becoming a son of God, and a coheir with Christ to the heavenly treasure. But he must take up the cross, and follow the Saviour in the path of self-denial. {DA 519.5}
Christ's words were verily to the ruler the invitation, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Joshua 24:15. The choice was left with him.
Jesus was yearning for his conversion.
[Did Jesus [God] know the man’s future?
Obviously, because He yearned to save him from it.
Why? Because He knew BOTH of his futures.
It was an either/or situation and Jesus was trying desperately to get him to choose the good way.]
He had shown him the plague spot in his character, and with what deep interest He watched the issue as the young man weighed the question! If he decided to follow Christ, he must obey His words in everything [for his safety]. He must turn from his ambitious projects. With what earnest, anxious longing, what soul hunger, did the Saviour look at the young man, hoping that he would yield to the invitation of the Spirit of God! {DA 520.1}
Christ made the only terms which could place the ruler where he would perfect a Christian character. His words were words of wisdom, though they appeared severe and exacting. In accepting and obeying them was the ruler's only hope of salvation. His exalted position and his possessions were exerting a subtle influence for evil upon his character. If cherished, they would supplant God in his affections. To keep back little or much from God was to retain that which would lessen his moral strength and efficiency; for if the things of this world are cherished, however uncertain and unworthy they may be, they will become all-absorbing. {DA 520.2}
The ruler was quick to discern all that Christ's words involved, and he became sad. If he had realized the value of the offered gift, quickly would he have enrolled himself as one of Christ's followers. [Seeing is not appreciating.]
He was a member of the honored council of the Jews [one of the Sanhedrin], and Satan was tempting him with flattering prospects of the future. He wanted the heavenly treasure, but he wanted also the temporal advantages his riches would bring him. He was sorry that such conditions existed [as was Esau]; he desired eternal life, but he was not willing to make the sacrifice.
The cost of eternal life seemed too great, and he went away sorrowful; "for he had great possessions." {DA 520.3}
His claim that he had kept the law of God was a deception [to himself]. He showed that riches were his idol. He could not keep the commandments of God while the world was first in his affections.
He loved the gifts of God more than he loved the Giver.
Christ had offered the young man fellowship with Himself. "Follow Me," He said. But the Saviour was not so much to him as his own name among men or his possessions. To give up his earthly treasure, that was seen, for the heavenly treasure, that was unseen, was too great a risk.
He refused the offer of eternal life, and went away, and ever after the world was to receive his worship. [So it was he who chose his future, one out of two.]
oooOooo
So the answer to the question, “Does God know our future?” is “Yes.”
But He knows BOTH our futures, for we often come up against a yes/no, will I/won’t I, situation.
At that point God does NOT KNOW which one we will take because that is our choice, and ours only. Here is our free will. God will continue to give us life whether for bad or for good, for He NEVER takes away our choice. What He does do is try to persuade us to change that choice without using any force other than the power of love.
There is no predestination in this area. However, if we make the right choices (and continue to make them) then God has predestined us to become His sons and daughters and live for ever. Ephesians 1:5, 11.
Therefore God cannot be sure about our individual futures to the point of accurately forecasting them.
But when it comes to knowing the future of groups of people, nations, and in fact, the whole world, He is certain. All it needs is time and the influence of the majority (which is ever towards separating from His protection) will lead into destruction. So He can with certainty lay down principles of prophecy which tell us the world’s future.
oooOooo
Helpful hint: Search the SofP for the phrase “might have been”. Try this link
http://www.egwestate.andrews.edu/published-writings.html
enter "might have been" with quote marks and go from "hit" to "next hit".
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