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Man’s Free Will or the Will of God?
I sometimes wonder if anyone can cause another person not to
achieve what they are supposed to in life. We hear others say that a person changed
the course of history through an action. Is this really the case or were the
events intended to have unfolded that way by design? We often grapple with
questions of destiny, purpose, and whether our lives are subject to divine
intervention or human will and intervention. Can anyone prevent or hinder the
fulfillment of God's purpose for an individual? This topic has perplexed many
people and there have been discussions and debates about it for centuries. The
perspective a person takes is often influenced by their belief and experiences
in life. As Christians, the word of God is what we use as our guide when
exploring these kinds of topics. In spite of this, there are different opinions
about it.
God’s Sovereignty
As Christians, we believe that God is in control of all
things and holds ultimate authority over our lives and the entire universe. In
Isaiah 14:27, it is proclaimed, "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and
who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"
This verse underscores the absolute sovereignty of God, emphasizing that His
plans cannot be thwarted by human efforts or external circumstances. This
sometimes makes it difficult for us to understand events that we experience, especially
when they are bad. We find it difficult to understand why God would allow such
things to happen. Job 42:2 of the Bible states, "I know that you can do
all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." This verse, along with
others, is often interpreted to mean that human actions cannot derail God's
intentions. Have faith that whatever blessings God has in store for you, He has
given the grace for fulfillment.
Man’s Free Will and Choices
The Bible also teaches that man makes choices. An example
of this can be found in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were
not willing.” Instead of “… not willing”
the King James version states “… you would not!”. This shows that the people
made decisions that were not in keeping with what God wanted them to do.
I have encountered people who made it their mission to try
to disrupt other people’s lives deliberately. Sometimes they do so because they
are envious of the other person who sometimes has no idea that this person is responsible
for what they are experiencing. They will stop at nothing to try to prevent
that person from being successful at whatever they are doing. In some cases
that person may have many more earthly possessions than the other person they
are persecuting, but that does not seem to matter to them. They are only happy
if they can find a way to make the other person’s life miserable. That is a
mission they have chosen for themselves.
James 1:13-16 states,” Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and
he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and
enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to
sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my
beloved brothers.” This means that we make our choices regarding what we want
to do or not do. A friend of mine once told me that on her way home she had a
strong urge to take the alternate route. She did not and ended up being
involved in an accident. She felt that had she followed that internal prompting
she would have avoided the accident. The still small voice was guiding her, but
she did not follow it.
God’s Providence and Our Choices
The New Testament further explores the relationship between
God’s divine providence and our human choices. In Acts 5:38-39, Gamaliel, a Pharisee,
and member of the Jewish ruling council, offers wise counsel regarding the
early Christian movement. He said, "Therefore, in the present case I
advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or
activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not
be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against
God."
Here, Gamaliel acknowledges the limitations of human
intervention in thwarting God's purpose. If something is truly ordained by God,
human efforts to oppose it will ultimately be futile. This passage underscores
the idea that while humans have agency, God's sovereignty ultimately prevails,
and His purpose cannot be thwarted. Another example is Jonah the prophet who
refused to go to Nineveh to deliver God’s prophecy to the people. He felt that
the people would repent after hearing the warning, God would forgive them, and
they would then think of him as a false prophet. He delivered the message after
he tried to escape on a boat and God caused a storm and the sailors threw him
overboard to save their lives. God allowed a whale to swallow him and spew him
out on the shore of Nineveh, the place he did not want to go to. He exercised
his free will, but it was overruled by God in His infinite wisdom.
Another example of an individual who, despite facing
significant challenges and opposition, ultimately fulfilled his divine purpose
was Moses. He overcame his initial reluctance and self-doubt to lead the
Israelites out of Egypt, as narrated in the book of Exodus. His journey from
fugitive to leader exemplifies that God’s calling can override human
limitations and obstacles.
A Dynamic Relationship and Hope in God's Promise
The question of whether anyone can stop the fulfillment of
God's purpose for a person's is an intricate intertwining between divine
sovereignty and the ability given to us humans to make our own choices. While
God's purpose ultimately prevails, humans are not mere pawns in a predetermined
script. Instead, we are active participants in a dynamic relationship with a
sovereign God who invites us to participate in His unfolding plan.
Many believe that each person has a unique role to play in
the grand scheme of things and that aligning oneself with this purpose is key
to a fulfilling life. This belief encourages individuals to seek spiritual
guidance and to trust in the journey, even when the path is unclear or fraught
with difficulties. In life's uncertainties, Christians find solace in the
promise articulated in Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose." This verse reassures believers that even in the face of
adversity or opposition, God is continually at work, orchestrating events for
the ultimate good of His people. Along our
path to fulfill God's purpose, we may encounter challenges, opposition, and
setbacks. These obstacles do not in any way diminish the sovereignty of God or
His ability to accomplish His purposes through us. Rather, they serve as
opportunities for growth, resilience, and deeper trust in His faithfulness. We
may not see those obstacles as opportunities in real time as they are happening
but many of us have looked back at them giving thanks that they occurred. As
the saying goes, “Hindsight is twenty-twenty.”
Steadfast Trust and Total Surrender for Fulfillment of
God’s Purpose.
Ultimately, the key to living according to God’s will and
purpose lies in embracing trust and surrendering to God's will. As 2
Corinthians 5:5 reminds us, "Now the one who has fashioned us for this
very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing
what is to come." God has intricately designed each of us for a specific
purpose, and He equips us with the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us along
the way. We may not have a literal compass but if we are tuned in to the Holy
Spirit and how He communicates with us we will have all the guidance that we
need. Trust in Jesus’ grace for purpose to be fulfilled in your life as He has ordained
it.
The fulfillment of God's purpose for a person's life has many complex threads of divine sovereignty and human choices intertwined to create the end result. While God's plans cannot be thwarted, He invites us to actively participate in His redemptive work in the world. As we navigate life's journey, may we find assurance in God's unchanging purpose, trusting that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
