Well, a good army sergeant may be a bit tough ...with a mind to save your life in battle.
What God wants for us is that we all be saved.
That seems a bit inconsistent with how people view the verses in the Bible that lead them to conclude both determinism and predestination. Wikipedia says, the latter term implies that God has actually determined (rather than simply seen) in advance the destiny of creatures.
God would have it that all would be saved ...and instructs us to go throughout the world spreading His Word.
If it is predetermined or predestined, irregardless of choice ...then why would we have to accept the Person of Jesus as He is written about in the Bible, glorifying the Father, and saying that He and the Father are One??
To take that interpretation further, why would Jesus even have had to come to suffer and die on a cross??
There are so many inconsistencies there ...that it flies in the face of reasoning.
God is righteous ...and everything we read about points to the same thing. Why would we be told we are going to face judgment? A person would not be judged for not being picked ...and there is none of righteous talk with that perspective.
Before we go on, let me make a point of comparison. Comparison can be a terrible thing, or it can be a good thing.
Comparison is not good when it involves envy, or ridicule ...somehow evaluating ours or someone else's standing in our eyes, or suggesting that they would be less favorable in anyone else's also. Forbid we try to pretend how God joins us in this game.
God only serves us by comparison by letting us know the difference between what is His way ...and what is not. And that is very helpful ...and intended to spare us further difficulties.
I worked in a prison. It was difficult to tell if some of the prisoners were repentant when they said,"I didn't know I would get caught." That statement only addresses the fact that they didn't have foreknowledge.
Some sounded more sincere, as they followed it up with additional statements of regret, and mentioning reasons such as peer pressure and wrong influences. Howbeit, they had ended up separated from society.
Until I went off to college and was on my own ...I didn't yet fully appreciate to the fullest extent what my parents had provided for me. When I was away, and separated from them ...I learned much.
We categorize sin ...and we rationalize it too. We often vary with our definition according to what we feel is wrong ...and dismiss what we feel is not so wrong. Yet, sin is plainly separation from God.
We label, and avoid for the most part the big sins ...as we view them. But, God views all sin the same.
When a man and woman say they are in love, we often hear the statement, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." We may say this categorically, but often it only holds true in some circumstances over the short term.
Sadly, absence often makes the heart grow fodder ...weeds and grass all thrown in together seems like much, but overall is of little individual value. And it's not hard to find ...it's readily available.
When Lucifer went against God, few of us would view that as a decision having any foreknowledge. It reminds me of the flippant statement I often hear, "How's that working for ya?"
Well, though things will not be well in Hell ...the one we call Satan has been working for ya. Whether you realize it or not, he's working for yer soul. And if you are a believer, he is working to destroy your testimony, your witness, and your effectiveness to do the work God has gifted or called you to do.
Separated from God, as a third of the angels are ...to me, is a very fearful thing. I don't fear it for myself because I believe in God, and trust Him ...but I fear for those who do not accept God for who He is, and are separated from Him.
The longer you remain separated from God, the more fodder grows ...and we know what happens when fodder piles up. It creates quite a stench.
The advantage is when we can see the results of sin ...as it progressively gets worse, and we also see the need for God. That is the sin advantage.
If you life with nothing but evil all around ...then you either join or hope for something other.
If you see nothing but good all around, then you don't see very far, or are out-of-touch and likely delusional.
If you see a mixture of good and evil ...you may not truly know the difference if the intrigue of what should not be seems overwhelming. But, if you've been told of Jesus, and the Bible ...things should soon become much clearer.
So, we have choice ...and we can choose to accept Him when he calls to draw us near Him, or we can ignore and join some other fold. I personally can see the contrast as a very clear choice ...and yes, I do sin, but I remain miserable while struggling with it. And I often find myself slipping up with my relationship with God, which alerts me to regroup ...so, this is an advantage to sin.
The best a person can have is a close relationship with God, and a promise to be with Him eternally. Yet, let us not take that for granted, or let it become routinely close ...instead of personally close.
Sometimes we need to draw back to Him ...and become closer in touch, which often includes learning. And sometimes learning is from making mistakes. All mistakes are not sin ...but, many of them are. And the advantage is when our perspective allows us to realize how much we really need Him. This perspective view is clearly shown in the description Jesus gives of the Prodigal Son.
Without some of the advantages of experience of when I drew away from Him (sin) ...I would likely not realize the strength of this concept to the extent that I do. I thank God for His grace, mercy, and love.
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