“Predestined” is an attention getting word. The dictionary definition of predestined is “an outcome or course of events determined in advance by divine will or fate.” I’ve heard the “elevator” explanation of predestination: when you step into an elevator you trust it’s going to take you where you want to go. The “airplane” explanation is similar; you get on the plane trusting the pilot will get you safely to the planned destination. Those explanations make some sense to me. They’re based on faith not fate. Nobody gets on an elevator or in a plane saying “whatever will be, will be.”
What doesn’t make sense to me is that the God who sacrificed his own Son to remove sin’s power to destroy us would then turn around and pick and choose those who would be saved. The phrase “turn around” became my catalyst to turn these eight verses around and read them in reverse changing only the punctuation at the end of verse 14 because that’s a question I could answer.
V14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory[?]
V13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
V12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
V11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
V10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
V9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
V8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
V7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace,
I turned around those verses and as I read I found myself caring less about my understanding of how “predestined” relates to personal choice and more about the question I could answer. “Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory[?] Predestination is still an elusive concept but I do know the answer to V14 is where destiny begins. The big turn around ends at the right destination too; “in him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
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