Time series -- this arrangement of past, present and future -- isn't simply the way life comes to us but is the way all things really exist. We tend to assume that the whole universe and God Himself are always moving on from a past to a future just as we are. But many learned men don't agree with that. I think it was the Theologians who first started the idea that some things are not in Time at all. Later, the Philosophers took it over. And now some of the scientists are doing the same.
Almost certainly God is not in Time. His life doesn't consist of moments following one another. If a million people are praying to Him at ten-thirty tonight, He hasn't got to listen to them all in that one little snippet which we call "ten-thirty." Ten-thirty, and every other moment from the beginning to the end of the world, is always the Present for Him. If you like to put it that way, He has infinity in which to listen to the split second of prayer put up by a pilot as his plane crashes in flames.
That's difficult, I know. Can I try to give something, not the same, but a bit like it. Suppose I'm writing a novel. I write "Mary laid down her book; next moment came a knock at the door." For Mary, who's got to live in the imaginary time of the story, there's no interval between putting down the book and hearing the knock. But I, her creator, between writing the first part of that sentence and the second, may have gone out for an hour's walk and spent the whole hour thinking about Mary. I know that's not a perfect example, but it may just give a glimpse of what I mean. The point I want to drive home is that God has infinite attention, infinite leisure to spare for each one of us. He doesn't have to take us in the line. You're as much alone with Him as if you were the only thing He'd ever created.
C.S. Lewis
To me this explanation deeply pictures God as the reader of your life story. God isnt all controlling but limits his power to respect our free will. God can see your life birth to death. Not saying God doesnt ever intervene in our lives because he does. God wont stop you from drinking but your liver will. God may persuade you to stop with all his controlled capabilities but ultimately wont force you.
And so God can see if your death was from drinking but God also can see you make a decision today to stop. Therfore changing your story as he reads it. But ultimately God can see all.
To me this is how if all are called to be saved he predestinedly knows who will be written in the book of life. Not choosing a select group but he can already see the deaths of everyone.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
Almost certainly God is not in Time. His life doesn't consist of moments following one another. If a million people are praying to Him at ten-thirty tonight, He hasn't got to listen to them all in that one little snippet which we call "ten-thirty." Ten-thirty, and every other moment from the beginning to the end of the world, is always the Present for Him. If you like to put it that way, He has infinity in which to listen to the split second of prayer put up by a pilot as his plane crashes in flames.
That's difficult, I know. Can I try to give something, not the same, but a bit like it. Suppose I'm writing a novel. I write "Mary laid down her book; next moment came a knock at the door." For Mary, who's got to live in the imaginary time of the story, there's no interval between putting down the book and hearing the knock. But I, her creator, between writing the first part of that sentence and the second, may have gone out for an hour's walk and spent the whole hour thinking about Mary. I know that's not a perfect example, but it may just give a glimpse of what I mean. The point I want to drive home is that God has infinite attention, infinite leisure to spare for each one of us. He doesn't have to take us in the line. You're as much alone with Him as if you were the only thing He'd ever created.
C.S. Lewis
To me this explanation deeply pictures God as the reader of your life story. God isnt all controlling but limits his power to respect our free will. God can see your life birth to death. Not saying God doesnt ever intervene in our lives because he does. God wont stop you from drinking but your liver will. God may persuade you to stop with all his controlled capabilities but ultimately wont force you.
And so God can see if your death was from drinking but God also can see you make a decision today to stop. Therfore changing your story as he reads it. But ultimately God can see all.
To me this is how if all are called to be saved he predestinedly knows who will be written in the book of life. Not choosing a select group but he can already see the deaths of everyone.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
