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14 years ago, I said yes to a date with Shaun Merrell.

As I look at our marriage today, I’m thankful I made that choice.

Because, that’s exactly what it was.

A choice.

No one made me. No one forced me. I chose to say yes.

We all make choices every day. I can look at our son when he’s faced with a decision, and I usually know the choice he’s going to make. As his parents, that’s part of knowing him.

And if we, as his parents, know most of his choices before he makes them, how much more would God?

Let’s talk about it.

Acts 13:44-52

“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Paul and Barnabas are in a new town sharing the same message they’ve shared before. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Anyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.

But in the midst of this declaration and celebration of salvation comes a debate that’s been argued from one end to the other.

The gentiles – those that were not Jews- heard the gospel message. And in verse 48 it says “all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Some other translations read “chosen”.

Does this mean that God has picked out a certain number of people to save before time began and only those that He has chosen will have the opportunity to be saved?

Let that question sit there for a second.

Need a couple more seconds? Go ahead, read that question again and take a little more time with it.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Heard that verse before?

Do they feel like they contradict one another?

To the contrary.

However, some will choose to take the first scripture out of context and make it say something it doesn’t.

God is God.

He has been God before the world began. He is the creator of all things. He chose to create the earth and all that is within it. Including man and woman.

He is all-knowing. Meaning – He knows everything. From the beginning to end, He already knows it. Even the decisions we would make.

And He still chose to create us.

When God made us, He gave us something called free will. This means that we have the ability to choose.

We can choose to love God. Or we can choose to not love God.

If God already decided what we would do, would that be a choice? 

Remember, God is God. He already knows what our choices will be. And yet, He still gives us the freedom, the opportunity to choose.

Just as I, even in my limited knowledge, look at my son and know the choices he will make, our Heavenly Father, knowing all things, knows what choices we will make.

Paul and Barnabas delivered this message to ALL of the people who were gathered. And as Luke writes it, the ones God already knew would believe, made that choice and believed.

Just as the thief on the cross did. Just as I did. Maybe, just as you did.

God knew. Before time began, He knew.

But we still have a choice.

Just as Joshua said – you choose this day whom you will serve but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

I choose a relationship with Jesus. I choose to believe in Him as my Savior. I choose to share Him with the world because they too have a choice.

I choose to believe. I choose faith in Christ by grace alone.

What will you choose?

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