If we could only somehow avoid that infinitesimal fraction of a nanosecond between heart beats that might be defined as a moment in time. That all defining unalterable moment frozen in time and space. It is that moment in time. Every single event in the history of the universe is determined by that one single defining moment. let us discuss that moment in terms of religion for a few moments.
There was a time when I just couldn't understand the religious teaching which held, that once a person was saved he was saved forever, and whatever future events might occur they could not effect his salvation. Now this just didn't make sense at all to me. It wasn't logical. Couldn't after all a man still commit the unforgivable sin and be condemed to damnation.?
But after years of pondering, reasoning and agonizing, like a bolt of lightning from the blue sky it suddenly came to me. They were right. I was thrown into a quandary. My logic had been all upside-down. Of course, it is the moment in time that does it. That one defining moment in time and space, that single moment that determines the outcome of all events.
It is not a lifetime of sin that condemns a man, nor a lifetime of righteousness that saves him. But that one defining moment in time. That moment that can't be changed and can't be avoided. Its like a glass of water from a pitcher. It is at that moment when you stop pouring that determines if the glass will overflow. It has nothing to do with the size of the glass or the amount of water inside. And this is true of all events. That one defining moment in time determines them all. Predestination is only a fact for events unaffected by living organisms. Life determines it's own destiny in most events.
This sudden revelation gave me great relief and ease of mind, for I had came to the logical conclusion that predestination was the determining factor of all events. At the time it was the only logical conclusion that made sense to me. Predestination in my mind was a horrible realization. That man has no control over his own destiny, but that it is all predetermined by past events is very unsettling. The belief in predestination actually had me listless. It destroyed all ambition and robbed me of all desire to carry on.When I received this revelation it made so much sense, it was so logical.
Why in heaven had I not known it before? I wanted to do things, all things, knowing I was doing them myself of my own violation and determination and that they had nothing to do with predestination. Knowing that for most events occuring throughout my life I was the one controlling the pitcher and I was the one who would determine how full my glass would be. This is not to say that I wouldn't be making mistakes, but they would be my mistakes, not something determined by past events.
Now I would be the last person to say that the future is not influenced by the past, of course it is, but it is not determined by the past. It is only determined by that one single definable moment in time. That moment in time is your destiny, not your past. It will always be your destiny until you reach that final moment. And though we can not ultimantly control that moments coming. We can often determine if it will come today, tomorrow or even at another time.
Now as for you religeous people, Once you are saved, you are saved for all time. But this is not to say there isn't those among you who believe you are saved but aren't actually saved at all. Sorry! |
