What we believe about God is that He is that He is Omniscience. That is, He knows everything that has happened, is happening and will happen in His creation. We also believe He has set in motion all events of His creation. Nothing is going to happen that He has not foreseen or has control over. So, has God predestinated salvation? Does knowledge predestinate?

We also believe God is present in His Creation in all places at all times. How can this be?

Imagine a child sitting in the floor with all his blocks, toy trucks and cars. His little toy people surround him. As he plays everything is real, the people, the buildings he constructed and the imaginary beasts that threaten to destroy the city. He is over all, in all that he created. He has created his own world in which he is master and decides all things.

Imagine that the little boy is playing and a tiny little ant darts from under one of the blocks. Does the boy control the ant? The ant is in his make-believe city. The boy can squash the ant or simply watch and see what the ant does. The boy has no way of knowing what the ant will do.

God knows what the ant will do. He knows what the boy is going to do. But does God knowing what the ant is going to do and what the boy is going to do predestinate their actions? If God were to intervene He could predestinate the actions of the boy or the ant. But if God only watches does He predestinate the boy or the ant?

If a person drops a golf ball onto a concrete floor it will bounce almost exactly the same way every time. Odds are it will bounce exactly the same at least once in a thousand drops. God knows exactly which way the ball will bounce each time.

When we read, "God created man in His own image" we must realize that "image" doesn’t mean physical. It means spiritual. It means with the ability to make choices. God has the power to direct our choices but when He does He takes away free choice. Does He influence our choices?

Yes! As a father encourages a child to choose milk over soda so God encourages us to choose right over wrong. His encouragement doesn’t end our free choice but it does influence the choice. The child can refuse the encouragement and drink the soda just as a person can resist the encouragement of God and do wrong.

Is grace irresistible? Can a person say no to God? Some theologians would say no. That God is Sovereign and that His will always trumps man’s free choice.

Another wonderful thing about God is that God loves His creation. He loves man. He has created man in His "image" and man therefore has free will, will choice. In His "image" also, means the ability to love. Why did God create man in the first place? According to theologians, "that He might enjoy man forever". Which means God desired man to love Him.

Love is an emotion, one that can’t be forced. If love is forced it is not love. Predestination removes love from the equation. Man has no choice but to love God! If man is predestined then predestination makes God a liar. For man is not created in God’s "image" spiritually. He is forced to love and he is forced into his destiny, he has no choices.

God desires love, the type of love that comes from choosing to love.

Does God know the destiny of man? Yes! Does God determine that destiny? No!

God is outside of time. He is not controlled by time as man counts time. God exists in eternity. He from His vantagepoint of creator can see the beginning of time and the end of time. He can from His vantagepoint in eternity see all the choices man will make. He can, when He so chooses, offer encouragement to influence a choice. Does He make the choices, no because if He should He becomes a liar and robs man of free will and free choice. Love becomes forced not chosen.