Men, even Christian men arguing over interpretation and memory to establish their bravado.  We cannot seem to let go of the rituals, rules, judgments and personal, importance jockeying that has plagued religious spirituality since the outset.  For example, this word predetermined.  There are men who have stopped speaking with each other because of differing understanding regarding this complex concept.  I don’t care how convincing I may be if I am arguing over a concept that is not clearly spelled out by God, then I am just being a disobedient cleric to suit my own purposes or ego.

I think the only ideas surrounding predeterminism that I need to contemplate surround, am I a predetermined friend of God who is going to escape His wrath to come?  My death is certain, except in the predetermined instance where I am snatched out through rapture to be with Him forever.  My service through discipleship is predetermined through my willing demonstrative love for God.  My humility is predetermined as I remember how my Saviour lay beaten, spit upon, naked, scourged, alone, physically impaled upon that cross haven drunken the cup of all man’s sin. God can do what He wants and if He predetermined that there should be certain instances that are treated in a specific manner for His Good Glory, then it shall be so, irrespective of my intimate thinking on the matter.

All I know is that I love you, because He loves you and that is enough for me.  But you are also lovable and I see their image upon you.  It hurts me to be involved in circumstances which chastise you, even when they are ordained by God for I want no pain to befall you.  God bids me look upon this world to see His judgment upon it and I will not look away, even when it breaks my heart to do so, because His Judgment is righteous and true.  I will not regret not having taken the availed opportunities to tell you of the coming Kingdom rather using the time wisely now to help you find salvation at the cross.  My joy is predetermined to everlasting alongside my Lord and God, Jesus Christ the King.