A good friend of mine has a teenager that is challenged with the wonder of Asperger's. This in turn throws challenge in the direction of both him and his wife, and when faith enters the picture it takes this challenge to the extreme.
You see, their son is extremely bright and a believer in Christ. But, he is also highly analytical and has a tendency to need concrete answers. This is where the challenge lies. He has determined that the all-knowing God creates evil by not stopping evil. The fact that the arrival of Christ, the reception of His arrival, and His crucifixion was set in place by God, confirms to him that God knows and controls all. The knowledge of these predestined events falls to our path and us. Knowing God has this control, removes the option for free will in his eyes. He continues his argument with various evil entities that have shadowed this worlds history. If God knows these things are to happen, why does He allow people of this realm to be born if they are doomed and will never have a chance to receive His mercy?
My response is to say that it is difficult to explain faith on an analytical level. My faith rest in my heart even though there are still times when I question the actions of God. I do believe that God knows all and we do not. So, in our scope, we do have a choice or the free will to steer our path even though God already realizes our outcome. This is what makes it our journey. It is how we handle our earthly experiences that propel our growth or our demise. Even sinister evil may repent in the end and if true repentance rest in the heart, forgiveness is at hand.
I do know that a consistent, simple, sincere prayer for awareness and guidance is the key to bringing this truth into the heart. Once there is a twinkle of this truth, grasp it, and it will blossom and grow.
Fantastic Michael! I know many people struggle with the same thing, and your response to that struggle is the same place that I have arrived myself.
ReplyDeleteDede