Gods plan the jews rejection and providence

[pwlj_christ87]

We all know that God had a plan to send his son onto the earth and that it was said “The stone that hte builders rejected became the chief corner stone”… so

a) did god know, or pre destine the jews to crucify jesus? how did that come about to be… if we are givne free will, yet god has a plan do those intertwine toggether perfectly? it is difficult for me to understand…

sometimes i feel lucky to myself that i was not born during that time as a pharisee… for being a pharisee meant i would not escape… but i do know of free will… ?? it can boggle the mind

also… i know i have choices to make, choices to make everyday… and the conseuqences of sin is death… have my choices already been amde? do i have a seat in heaven or hell does god know this? becuase if he did, he wouldnt intercede would he? so i still have the power to go where i want to…

again lack of understanding

 

[ProdglArchitect]

I think that part of your problem is that you are thinking linearly, in terms of time. In reality, it is not so much that God knew it would happen before it did, it is that It happened, so God knew about it. There is no such thing as “time” to God, so his knowledge is not limited to a linear interpretation of events. Imagine experience everything ever, all at once, and being able to understand it all individually, that is something akin to God’s comprehension.

It is a very difficult thing to relate in human terms, since our brains simply aren’t designed to comprehend it. God did not predestine it, but he did know… however, his knowledge wasn’t so much foresight as it was experiencing it as it occurred… however, this event happened simultaneously with everything that came before and after it. We have our free will, and we Chose, and God knows all of our choices, and planned accordingly “before” creation.

Like I said, hard to explain…

Think of it this way. God can see ever result of every choice, ever. However, this foresight does not negate the effect of our choosing a particular course of action. He knows your choices because to God, you’ve already chosen them… and you will chose them again…

I’m sorry, this isn’t a very good explanation, it’s a really hard concept to relate to someone…

 

[St_Francis]

The way I picture it to myself is the God is outside of time, and on a line below Him is everything in time. So we experience time a little bit, then the next bit, then the next bit, bit God sees it all at once from above. I imagine Him looking back and forth, getting information from this time and “sending it back” to prophets in a previous time… and of course He can also see what direction something is going, how hardened people’s hearts are, etc, and consider that as well.

 

[pwlj_christ87]

ok i m sort of understanding this concept scares me because in a sense it makes me feel like ive already either going to heaven or hell… even though im living the christian life and will die a catholic i feel safe but its uneasy the fact that its already happened?\

 

[St_Francis]

ok i m sort of understanding this concept scares me because in a sense it makes me feel like ive already either going to heaven or hell… even though im living the christian life and will die a catholic i feel safe but its uneasy the fact that its already happened?\

No, from our point of view, it has not yet happened. God knows now where you will be, but in the meantime, where you will be is entirely up to you, and you, like everyone else, have God’s help in this, and you know He really wants you to go to Heaven! And gou are really in an excellent position to get to Heaven, because you have the full set of directions, you have the help of the sacraments, and you have the help of others, both those who are still in this world and those already in Heaven, to help you!

So remember that God is true to His promises, and all you have to do is your very small part.

Keep close to God through prayer!

 

[ProdglArchitect]

ok i m sort of understanding this concept scares me because in a sense it makes me feel like ive already either going to heaven or hell… even though im living the christian life and will die a catholic i feel safe but its uneasy the fact that its already happened?\

It hasn’t “already happened” to us because we are still subject to the laws of time. Look at it this way: A person in the future knows that I am going to rob a bank. He comes back in time in order to observe, and maybe even drop hints to he cops. His foreknowledge of my actions does not mean that my choice to rob the bank is predestined, it just means that he knows I’m going to chose rob the bank. The movie Minority Report actually takes a really good look at this: (I know it’s Tom Cruise, but it’s actually a really good movie )

[SPOILER ALTER]

The psychic police in the story have determined that Tom Cruise is going to kill a man. This is something they have seen, as far as the police are concerned it has already happened. In the end, however, the choice still falls to him as to whether or not he is going to kill the guy. He enacts his free will and makes a decision, regardless of the foreknowledge of the police.

… OK, I tried to do that without giving any actual spoilers, but anyways, I hope this helps a little. Do not fall into the trap of predestination; nothing determines your outcome except your choices. Just do your best to be your best, and when you fall, go to confession.