During worship at work yesterday morning, a colleague shared about how God had already planned our lives way before we were born.
In a way, it's great to know that God has a plan for me right from the start. And as he has promised, this are plans to prosper me and not to harm me.
The colleague also went on to talk about how God did not only favoured the Jews back in Bible times, even though that's all we get to read about in the Bible. God was working with the other nations as well, moving them around the world and placing them just where he wanted them.
And all this for their own good.
The thing is, I can't help but feel a little bit like a pawn. That the only reason why I'm living is to be moved around by God.
Does it make a difference that the reason why he moved me around is for my good?
I suppose it makes the experience a little more pleasant....but yet, I still can't shake off the feeling that I'm just a chess piece.
Yes, I should be thankful to God for giving me life and sustaining me and all that, but why even create me in the first place if only just to move me around?
I don't have an answer for this, besides the fact that I can't exactly change the fact that I've been created, and I'm currently living and since God deemed it so, I suppose I should try to live my life glorifying and sharing him as best as I can.
Does anybody have any further insights to this?
4 comments:
I don't know that i can believe God plans out my life. I can believe that God works on people like the sun shines on the earth. People are elements. The sun can shine butter and melt it...it also shines on clay and hardens it. God is constant...we chose to be whatever element we want. Our reaction to Him depends on the choices we make that determines what sort of people we are.
I'm not keen on predestination. It seems capricious at best and malicious at worst for God. It just seems too "Those people who are saved? Well, they always would be. Those who get roasted? Never had a chance - they were always gonna be as well."
Kind of surprising it still sticks around in a variety of forms of expression in Christian circles these days.
God created us with choice. The ability to make our own decisions, form our own thoughts and explore what relationships we wish to. Including a relationship with Him. Choice is a good thing, really.
I agree about the whole predestination thing is well, not that great. And that we have a choice.
But then how do we respond to people when they say things like "God didn't give me that job because He's got a better plan for me." And they do get a better job that is better for them?
And what about the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 where it says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."?
I think God's plans for us are just that - plans. We can work with Him or ignore what He thinks would be best for us.
It's not a really good analogy, but I guess it could almost be like plans parents have for their kids or something.
Plus, I think with people saying, "Oh, it mustn't have been in God's plan..." Perhaps sometimes it's not, but perhaps at other times, they're just creating an emotional crutch or something to make themselves feel a bit better about missing out on something.
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