God’s Providence:

God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that He (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which He created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill His purpose.

One might ask how this definition is God’s Providence.

To this I would answer:God continually maintains our well-being, and the well-being of all created things; He is in direct contact and cooperation with everything He created. He is involved in every action that takes place in the existence of one of those beings. He is the ultimate cause of every action that takes place in the life of that being; and furthermore He directs the actions of every being in accordance with His purpose in order to fulfill His purpose.

One would say then that we do not have a ‘free will’ if God is in control of our every action. To this I would answer that we must then define the words ‘free will.’ People in our infinite knowledge with and pray that we have the ability to make decisions outside of the knowledge and control of God. We are so caught up in ourselves that we forget the point of our existence and of God’s role in our lives; more importantly though our role in relationship to God.

In the sense of our ignorant, conceded being we have no ‘free will.’ We do not have the ability to make decisions outside of the knowledge and will of the LORD. Ephesians 1:11 says, “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.” The fact that the word ‘predestined’ is in here has no relevance over the fact that all beings are under His control. It does not have any significance whether or not you are a ‘chosen’ being or not you are under the control of the LORD.

Someone might ask then what does the bible speak about when it uses the phrase “free will?” The bible I would say is talking about our ability to make choices that have ‘real’ effects to the world as a whole, but not to anything outside God’s control. If you decide to do something that causes an action that is the ability given to you by God who ultimately knows the outcome of the decision, the action, and the consequences.

Most people hate this concept because in our arrogant, ignorant minds we have created this notion that we have any ability what-so-ever to be able to create something, do something, or accomplish something that we had control over. And from this we gave ourselves this crazy idea that we are in control of something. From there we came to believe that there is nothing that we ultimately do not have control over. We can’t stand not being in control. I would rather be with God and let God be, then try to be in control over what is ultimately God’s; ME.