What is Freedom of Will?

By Reverend Bruno Egli

“Your life is what your thoughts make it.”  - Marcus Aurelius

 

The opening chapter of the Bible states the purpose for which we humans were created:

(Gen 1:27-31 NIV)  "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. {28} God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." {29} Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. {30} And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so. {31} God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

So we see that God created us in his image and that he created us male and female. We also perceive that God entrusted all of his creation to the human creation. God’s reaction to this was to say that is was a good choice and was pleased with it all – It was perfect.

If one were to read on through the history of the formation of the people of God, one perceives how God, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit enriched the human life, gifting people with artistic and creative skills.

Francis Schaeffer made the following statement on this:

“No work of art is more important than the Christian’s own life, and every Christian is called upon to be an artist in this sense.

They may have no gift of writing, no gift of composing or singing, but each person has the gift of creativity in terms of the way they live their life. In this sense, the Christian’s life is to be an art-work. The Christian’s life is to be a thing of truth and also a thing of beauty in the midst of a lost and despairing world.”
 

Each day we ought to remember this and focus on all of Creation and our Ecological interactions.

Someone once said:

“This is a test. It’s only a test. If this were your actual life, you would be given better instructions”

But this is your life. It is not a test run. And the shocking reality is that we are not perfect. And because we have a free will, can make mistakes. And yet, God in creating us made this possible.

And as long as we live our life in God’s Creation, we will continue to wonder why God allows human beings to make bad decisions as well as good ones. And while some ponder these things and try their best, others will misuse this freedom to enrich themselves or to have power and control over others well beyond what God’s perfect plan for us is.

A minister was making a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine. As he was pounding away, he noticed a little boy watching him. The youngster didn’t say a word, so the preacher kept on working, thinking that the lad would be leaving. But he didn’t.

Pleased at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor finally said: “well, son no doubt you are trying to find out some pointers on gardening?” “No” he replied. “I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”

As Christians we are ever seen as standing up for good, and the world watches. The world assesses us in the way we act and behave and react to the same forces and events that affects us all. The rain and the sunshine affects us all alike. What we do with is, and how we react to it, that’s what makes the difference.

Human beings have the rational power to choose between good and evil and to bear full responsibility for that choice. As Jesus said: “I am coming soon! And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.” (Rev. 22:12 CEV)

This freedom gives to humanity the power to be deliberate, determinate, and creative in choosing the plans, purposes, and directions of life. It creates the possibility of true relationships with other people and with God.

There is a Harvest to all that we do in life, and what we do with life. It is reflected in how we use our world, our Ecology, our gifts and our heart.

And there is a Harvest to how we receive and use God’s love, God’s gift of forgiveness, and how we use God’s guidelines for a life well lived.

The human will, while free, is subjected to the influences brought upon it from within, says Jesus: “Out of your heart come evil thoughts, vulgar deeds, stealing murder, unfaithfulness, greed, meanness, deceit, indecency, envy, insults, pride, and foolishness. All of these come from your heart, and they are what make you unfit to worship God.” (Mk 7:21-23 CEV)

The impact of sin (human’s will), is such that believers still face hard moral choices and often feel frustrated by the power and compulsions of sin in their lives.

Through Jesus Christ’s salvation, regeneration, and sanctification, the will can be freed to function as God created it.

The chief use of people’s free will, should be to seek to know, and follow the will of God.

“Usually, most of us barely pay any attention to what we are thinking. We spend more time choosing the clothing we wear, the food we eat, the car we drive, than we do choosing the thoughts we have.”

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Norman Vincent Peale