“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:3-4

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Here in Matthew Chapter 7 and I Timothy Chapter 2, we read two passages of Scripture that would seem at odds with one another if we are to believe the narrative that God always does what He desires and controls every aspect of His Creation. In I Timothy we read rightly that God “wills” or desires that everyone would accept the salvation that He has provided through His Son Jesus, but in Matthew we read Jesus himself stating that many will miss the way to life and find destruction instead.

What goes? How can both of these things be revealed truth from a truthful God?

Both of these passages are absolutely true and fit together hand in glove when we begin to truly understand interrelationships between God’s sovereignty, His goodness, man’s original design, and our ability to choose.

The last several weeks we have written in response to some tough questions concerning the seeming contradiction between the declared goodness of God and His undeniable sovereignty. To find the answers to these questions we went to the only absolute truth in this world, the Bible.

We have seen that God is most definitely all-powerful and if He so desired, could force us to do His will, but that He has decided to give us the power of faith and choice to respond to His predestined plan for our lives.

We’ve thought a bit about this idea of predestination, a stumbling block to those who believe God controls all, and we’ve noted that there is such an idea. God, in fact, has predestined all humanity, but rather than a mechanism that turns us into victimized robots, unable to escape our futures, God’s predestination was a well-thought-out pre-plan for all our lives. Sure, our lives are predestined! We all have a wonderful destiny to fulfill! We are all here on purpose, all called to accept God’s plan for our lives, but we have a choice in whether we take Him up on that invitation. Predestination and God’s ability to be in control of all do not negate or trump His gift of free will.

Now, it’s this power to choose that is the determining factor in God’s influence in our lives and in this planet at any given moment. Think about it: all the way back in the beginning Adam and Eve chose poorly and death and its agents entered into this world. Satan gained authority and, to this day, still wields as much as humanity will surrender to him. Then came Jesus. He chose to die for us and won back authority for himself and his Body. Because of that we have the opportunity to make significant choices to impact our lives and this planet again.

Can you see now the answer to so many questions concerning the good and evil that coexist in this present form of Earth? It’s not because God is playing some sick game with us, and it’s not because He is both good and evil, kind and unkind.

Is God sovereign? Is He in control? Is He good?

He is, but He can only be in control of our lives and extend the full measure of His goodness to us when we choose to yield control to Him through our choices. Think about your salvation experience. It’s the ultimate example of God’s sovereignty and goodness. Jesus already did that work for you almost 2,000 years ago. God had the whole thing pre-planned before the beginning of time as we know it. Yet, you still had to choose to respond that day you committed your heart to the Lord. You had to choose to accept life and miss Hell! Predestination, God’s control, God’s goodness, God’s sovereignty collided at the intersection of your free will choice, and you entered into that narrow way that leads to life.

Greg Crum is the pastor of Calvary Temple in Lovely.