When God Chooses Not To Repent

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:29&30.

Why I awakened this morning with, of all things, the subject of PREDESTINATION on my mind, I don't know; but, over my coffee, the Lord gave me this wonderful thought. We always think of predestination as having to do with salvation- and rightly so. God, looking down through eternity saw me as a 5 year old, on my knees trusting Jesus. Since He knew that I would be saved, God went ahead and called me and gave me a purpose.

Not stopping there, He also justified me. From then on, knowing through His omniscience that I would someday be cleansed through the blood of His Son, He saw me as justified-just as if I'd never sinned. Not content to stop there, He wanted to be able to see me as already present in my future Heavenly home so He glorified me.

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6
I don't think, however, we do any injustice by applying predestination to our everyday lives. God, looking down through that same 'eternal scope' also saw that I in February of 1994, would be diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma brain tumor; and, that by the time of this writing, it would have increased to a grade 3 out of a possible 4.(this is not 'Jeopardy;' the goal is not to get the highest score.)

Back to the Father looking down through eternity. Remember: God, although He cannot make a mistake, can repent or change His mind.

"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." Genesis 6:6

"And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto His people." Exodus 32:14

God, however, chose not to repent this time. He saw today and He saw my specific situation. He saw the surgery that I just had. He saw the radiation that I will soon need to have. He saw my mounting medical bills. He saw my dear wife who, without complaint, endures the stress of being both caregiver and breadwinner.

(a note here: please do not forget the spouses of the seriously ill. Sometimes, in our attempt to support the ill, they seem to get 'lost in the shuffle.')

Even though He's known all the specifics of today since before time began, He has chosen not to repent. Instead, He had the Holy Spirit -who is God- portion out the exact amount of physical, emotional, and spiritual strength that I would need TODAY.

"But my God shall supply all your need(singular) according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

If you are enduring a trial, and God has chosen not to repent, remember that your course was laid out before time began; and the one who laid it out will direct it until time is no more, and we see Him in glory.

Joseph Merhalski
August 27, 2001

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