1. I tend to lean towards an idea of God having "umbrella knowledge". This means God has the ability to know the result of every possible combinations of human decision but as humans we still make decisions. I believe God interferes at crucial moments of humanity and in individual lives, if it is His will. This leads me to believe in aspects of both decision and destiny.
2. I struggle with absolute free will and with predestination.
2a. If Free will is correct in its entirety then the salvation of everyone in the world falls on us as Christians and my sins may entirely prevent someone, some group or some nation of people from knowing Jesus. How can we live under the burden of that? This means the fact that you lied about that gumball you stole when you were 4, it could have eternal implications on the life of the clerk you lied to.
2b. If Predestination is entirely correct then I find myself being a universalist. If God's will happens and it's His will that "none should perish" I find it logical that hell is reserved strictly for Satan and his minions. If Predestination is correct and universalism is not the answer, then we believe in a God who created people whose entire exisistence was simply to be seperated from Him. If predestination is correct, I wish I wouldn't have had my son. If it is destiny there is nothing I can do to help point him to Jesus. My son is either destined for relationship with Jesus or not. If not I can't survive the fact that I gave him life. Even though that would have been my destiny. If that were the case it would lead me to hate God and myself and that is a scary place to be.
Neither of these solutions (in full) sit comfortable. I praise God that He is Just, Good, Graceful, Wise and Compassionate. I fall on the truth that Jesus died and rose again one time to free all those who believe from the penalty of sin. I praise His name because only the name of Jesus is worthy of adoration and in His will I place my hands and my life.
