What do you think God has predestined for you in 2012?
Actually, what God has predestined for each of us is not limited to 2012. Here is one of several startling words out of Sunday’s lectionary scriptures: this has been going on since before the foundation of the world. “Destined, predestined, chosen, gather all things,” the words pile upon one another in an amazingly long sentence in the epistle reading. In the cascade of praise blessing God for all God has done, our Epistle lesson tells us that before anything came to be, you, I, all who belong to God in Jesus Christ, had been known by God. Our destination was predetermined.
Predestination means exactly what the linguistic structure of the word suggests: our destination has been predetermined by the One who created us. What did the text say? “[God] chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world ….” Among the many riches hidden in the text for Sunday, we hear a beautiful word which stands in stark challenge to those Christians who would reduce the gospel to a decision you and I must make for Christ, a sort of divine-human bargain whereby those who personally accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior win eternal life, and those who reject him, gain for themselves eternal damnation. No, this is about the choice God has made for us.
Before the foundation of the world, God chose us, destined us, for adoption as God’s children through Jesus Christ. Did you hear that? We belonged to God in Jesus Christ even before we came into being. Why? Because before God created anything, God chose to make it so. You and I may go through life with questions about God, the truth, the church, our faith and life. We not only may, but do waver in our faithfulness and commitments. God does not.
It is called “grace” — “glorious grace” to be more specific — “freely bestowed on us in The Beloved.” Do you hear anything there that makes such a gift, such an inheritance contingent upon you or me, upon any of us? You and I hear it Sunday after Sunday — hear it again — it is already done! As the declaration of pardon continues to remind us weekly, “In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.” The one who regularly startled everyone around him by announcing, “Your sins are forgiven,” has acted so that you and I are forgiven. Notice, the text does not say “might be forgiven if we keep our noses clean from here on” nor “will be if we feel sorry enough for our sins.” You and I have been forgiven in Jesus Christ.
But why us? There are several answers to that question. Unfortunately, all too frequently that question is not asked by those of us in the church, but only by those who stand outside of it. Wouldn’t our lives be more graceful, our living more grace-filled, our witness more authentic if we asked this question of ourselves a bit more regularly? Those who ask that question with integrity soon see our redemption and forgiveness as the glorious graciousness it is, rather than the result of our own decision.
Why us? The best answer is: “God only knows; it is a divine mystery.” The book of Ephesians regularly uses the word “mystery” to describe God’s gracious purpose with creation. Remember, when the word “mystery” is used in a theological context, it does not mean something hidden, because it is contrary to reason. Rather it means something that is hidden, because it is beyond our reason. God did this for reasons only God can fully comprehend. For us it is a mystery.
But there is more than one answer to that question. The second reason is given in the text itself. God has predestined us to this inheritance, because it gave God pleasure to do so. Three times this lesson makes that point. God did this, because doing so gives God pleasure. I think it is analogous to the pleasure lovers finds in doing special things for one another, the pleasure a parent finds in surprising a child with an unexpected gift, the pleasure we take in doing something gracious for a friend. Why then, should it surprise us that this is not different with God. God has done this because it gives God great pleasure to do so.
But that still doesn’t fully answer the question “Why us?” A word of warning at this point. The final answer may come as a bit of a surprise. Who said it was only “us?” Yes, this letter written to the churches of Asia Minor talks about the impact of God choosing us in Jesus Chris. Notice the promise is larger than simply to the church, larger than simply to “us.” What God has destined for us in Jesus Christ, God has destined for the rest of the world as well. The redemption and forgiveness you and I have in Jesus Christ is not ours alone. God has done this for everyone. In the fullness of time, God will gather all things in both heaven and earth and bring them to completion in Jesus Christ.
So when you think about this year that lies ahead of us, know that God has already predestined its outcome and will “work all things to the good for those who trust and believe in him.”
Peace.
Rev. Carriker
