I believe there are laws that govern the universe. I cannot jump on top of a building no matter how hard I try or how much I may emotionally feel like I should be given the right to. There is a something called gravity that overrides both my talent and emotions. As a Christian I don’t wrestle with the concept of free will. I believe God created me, knows me and has a plan for my life that brings Him glory. Much like how I can see a series of storm clouds and conclude that it will most likely rain, I know that if it does rain I didn’t create it because of my knowledge or observation. It rains because of a series of laws at work that result in rain. In the same way, I believe God created me and by virtue of that action can already see the outcome given His knowledge of the laws He created and how my life will interact and be guided by them. I have the “free will” to make decisions in the midst of circumstances but that is not the same as having the “free will” to do what I want, when I want or how I want.
Why is this important?
When the tough stuff of life hits me and it seems like I am stuck under a pile of thoughts, emotions and circumstances that are causing sleepless nights and frustrating days, I can find hope in knowing that my life is being used by God for a result that He decided I needed to be a part of. That’s a very powerful idea. Of all the possible worlds that could have existed and knowing what the outcome my life would produce (including all of the mistakes I would make, the people I would hurt, the poor decisions I would have to live with that impact others), He still decided to create me. The sun comes up each day and I am given the opportunity to pursue all that He has for me and trust Him for the results.
This also means that because He created me He knows me. Truth be told, I still learn more about myself every day and find curiosity in how I am being used by God who created me and the world in which I move around in. Some days it’s obvious how I am being used and other days I feel like it is obvious He is not. No matter how I see any given day it doesn’t change the fact that He knows me.
What does that cause me to do?
If the burden of my life is knowing that God created me and decided the world is better with me in it than to not be here, I try to find the ways in which I can serve others in the capacity that I live. If I have been given a life to live how can I give it away? As a husband I look to serve my wife. As a father I look to serve my children. As a business owner I look to serve my team. As an entrepreneur I look to serve society at large. I am not sure how I would bear the burden of life without this knowledge. I am not sure why I would do anything.
The life of Jesus is where I find the lens to see how my life should be lived. Pursue a relationship with God each day by serving others.