The Dilemma of Predesination

I was in a meeting where the topic of discourse was “God’s Elect” and somehow the preacher dabbled into the subject matter of predestination. Ever since then, I have been meditating on the importance of this and its implication.

 

You need to understand this subject matter of predestination as it is critical to living a healthy life filled with rest in this divided world. There are many sides to this study but I want to thread a path that will innovate your mind to living happily where you are. It’s about finding rest!

 

Predestination as the name of this concept suggests means there had been an earlier conclusion on a particular thing or being. Now, God said to Jeremiah “before you were formed in your mother’s womb I knew thee”, that means a whole lot. This tells us there is a man in the mind of God even before the man or the parents had any conscious knowledge of his existence. This in simple terms means there is a design the man is to play out. It’s not the man’s choice but that of the designer.

 
Remember how notorious Apostle Paul was before he submitted to God? The book of Galatians made us to know God had appointed him to be an apostle from the beginning. It wasn’t his will but the design of the master. We never heard of Ananias again who was privileged to introduce Paul into his ministry after he met with Paul. Ananias could have wanted to be known as much as Paul but that’s the dilemma of predestination, you can’t help it. So, if you don’t understand it anxiety, depression and unrest becomes the order of your life.

 

Understanding that every man is created according to design makes it easy for you to sail through life without depression. All be it, because man enters into the world without a knowledge of the creator or His design of him, he is introduced to what is defined as the height of achievements in life. Everyone believes occupying the position of the president, director, leader is the hallmark but there is an original plan even before you were formed. It is according to God’s choice not your desire. This is where I see the dilemma we find ourselves from the issue of predestination. It is a product of what you are on earth to do in order to complete the order of God’s purpose for mankind.

 

Don’t you think you could have done the same if you happen to be Joseph’s brothers? No one wants anyone ahead of him. However, if they understood the dilemma of predestination they would have known it’s not about who is occupying the front role but living according to design. There is no front role in the design but playing according to fore-role.

 

Joseph’s brothers were ignorant of predestination. The first dilemma about predestination is that you cannot help it. All their efforts to bring Joseph down only ended up in futility.  

 

Friend, many times we have been so engrossed with being ahead of one person or the other that we get so depressed but having an understanding of this dilemma makes you settled. Esau didn’t understand this immediately after he sold his birth right, he was furious. However, when he did, he never had the intention of fighting Jacob when they met. In his own way God has blessed him according to design.

 

The devil suggest to you that you are failing and quickly you back it up with the scripture of always being ahead and not the tail. The devil knows well that the more you venture into this, the more depression sets in.

 

What has he called you to do? Do it faithfully without comparing your success with another man’s assignment. You are not of same design.

 

Does this mean you don’t launch for excellence? No! However, when you begin to lose your peace to live, you may likely be leaving your design. Your life is not your choice, it’s His design. Trust the designer to take you through.

 

Enjoy your week with rest.

 

Be Innovated
Olufemi Ibitoye
@toyeolufemi