Allowing free-choice evil is God’s way of sorting out who gets to share eternity with Him.
One of the most revealing questions is: Did you choose God or did God choose you.
I like the word receive.
We can be certain God chooses us. But do we choose him? The question baffles me.
We must submit to God. The concept of choosing seems to have an element of taking, which is not properly submissive.
As far as I can tell (which is not as far as others), the concept of receiving is both an active decision and consistent with submission.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)Which is not opposed to man choosing. For man is not converted in his sleep, as instead man is called to choose. Yet in conversion the sinner does what he/she otherwise would not and could not do, but God provided salvation and grants repentant faith and works in us to obey), that of believing.
. For man could not and would not believe on the Lord Jesus or follow Him unless God gave him life, and breath, and all good things he has, (Acts 17:25) and convicted him, (Jn. 16:8) drew him, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32) opened his heart, (Acts 16:14) and granted repentance (Acts 11:18) and gave faith, (Eph. 2:8, 9) and then worked in him both to will and to do of His good pleasure the works He commands them to do. (Phil. 2:13; Eph. 2:10)
Thus it is effectual faith which identifies a believer, and persevering in faith is exhorted, versus denying the faith, against developing an "evil heart of unbelief in departing from living God," from the faith they once held, falling from grace, making Christ of no effect, to no profit, drawing back to perdition," yielding to pressure to deny the faith after conversion so that Paul's labor would be in vain, (Gal. 5:1-5; Heb. 3:12; 10:25-39; 1 Thessalonians 3:5)
Hebrews 11. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Living on this tumultuous planet is a test of faith. Will we still choose to believe the Almighty God even during and enduring often hostile and cruel happening’s? We weren’t meant to figure it all out but we are to be faithful in trusting Him through it all. To become cynical of God, atheistic or totally agnostic is a failing grade on the faith scale.
Did you choose God or did God choose you.
= = =
God chose me, and I let Him.