Expert: Mel and Guyna Horne - 2/11/2007

Question
God knows the day of our birth and the day of our death right?   The day we will die is the day God knows even if we are murdered or plan crash or illness right, And we can't change it can we ?  

Answer
Hi Denise,

  Your question concerns one aspect of "predestination".  Has God already predetermined the events of our lives in advance? Are we like cartoon characters that have no control over what happens next because it is all up to the artist who created us?

 One of the ten commandments has a promise about longevity of life.
"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you."  (Deu. 5:16, also Ex. 20:12).

 This shows that how many years we live is directly related to how we treat our parents.  As God is also our Father, there is a dual meaning to this commandment and promise.  If we also honor God as our Father, we are offered "prolonged" human life and eternal life.
  For those who never knew their parents, the orphans, adoptees, and abandoned children, showing honor to God is the only means they have of obeying this command.

 Has God predetermined when every person will die?
 King Solomon was world famous in his time for his wisdom which was given to him by God (1Kings 4:29-34). Solomon wrote:
 "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all." (Ec. 9:11).

 This contradicts the idea that God predestinates all the specific events of our lives.  But time and chance can be changed by God's intervention if it suits his purposes or if we pray for his intervention.

 The most common ideas about predestination include:
 1. "Whatever will be, will be."  That Fate (mythical Greek god) controls our lives. Greek stoicism dates from the 3rd-4th cent. BC. The Greek philosophers had a problem reconciling fate and liberty.
  This idea is attractive to some because it would relieve man of all responsibility.  It says that we have no control, therefore nothing is our fault and we can do nothing about it.  God gave us minds capable of reasoning and free will to make choices. While he gives us commandments and encourages us to live righteously, the choices are up to us.
 As for physical life, if we make foolish choices such as using dangerous drugs (meth, X, homemade drugs), participating in dangerous activities (armed robbery, gang violence, drunk driving, swimming with sharks, climbing the alps, bull riding, unprotected sex), or abusing ones health (living on junk food, overeating, under eating), we will probably "reap what we sow".
"Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." (Job 4:8)

 2. A religious version of this is that God has "predestined" specific individuals to be in his kingdom and others to be in Hell, and this cannot be changed.  A variation on this theme is "once saved always saved".
    The apostle Paul wrote, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Cor. 9:27).  Paul knew that "it ain't over 'til its over".
   God offers us a choice of blessings or curses, life or death.(Deu. 30:15, 19).  He requires that we demonstrate the "fruits of the Holy Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:12-23) rather than the "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5: 19-21, 26, Col. 3:5-9).  Since we have to make that choice, no one knows yet which choice we shall make.
  In the Old Testament accounts of the Judges and Kings over the nations of Israel and Judah, some of the leaders were righteous and some were evil. Some started out righteous and became evil, others started wrong but repented.

 Predestination is mentioned in a number of scriptures.  God had a plan before he created the world and mankind.  He knew in advance how things would go in general.  He also, at some point, planned some specifics, including having his Son be born as a human, and die for our sins.  He knew that some would obey him and that he would welcome them into his kingdom. He knew that some would be evil and would have to die. In some cases, he intervenes to end life or to prolong it.

 There are scriptures that talk about one's birth and death, but none that say those dates are already scheduled for each of us. While God is aware of our birth and death, there is no indication that he schedules them for each of us.  If you have a specific scripture in mind we shall be happy to discuss it.

 God is aware of us to the smallest details about each of us and is interested in our lives.
 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?[cheap] and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [knowing it].
 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
 Fear you not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mat. 10:29-31).

Because of his interest, he is aware of us as soon as we are born, probably as soon as we are conceived. He is also aware of our dying. He is more aware of us and more responsive to us in proportion to our awareness and responsiveness to him.
"For all those things [heaven and earth] have my hand made, and all those things have been, says the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor [has humility] and of a contrite [repentant] spirit, and trembles at [reverences] my word."

Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Mel and Guyna

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