Congratulations, You’re Preapproved!
Congratulations, you’re “Preapproved”!
Doesn’t it just make you feel good when all those credit card companies send you an invitation like this? Even though we are “preapproved”, there are still a couple of things we must do before the credit card can become a functional part of our life; we have to “choose” to make an application for the card, and once we receive the card, we have to “choose” to use it to make purchases.
What would you think if that credit card invitation read; “Congratulations, you’re “Predestined”? That would be a little concerning as it implies that it has been “established beforehand” and that you have no choice as to whether you will use that companies credit card or not.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30 (NASB)
In many different Bible translations, these verses use the word “predestined”, which to us means that something is set to happen that we have no control over. According to that concept, we “WILL” be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Some other translations state it a little bit differently:
“For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29 (Amplified Bible)
“For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, so that he might be the eldest of a great brotherhood;” Romans 8:29 (MontgomeryNT)
To “foreordain” means to “pre-approve”.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
God has a “plan” for our lives that He has “pre-approved” (foreordained) for us to follow; part of that plan is for us to “become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ” (become more and more like Him). Our becoming like Jesus is not something that is “predestinated”, that will just “happen”. Our becoming like Jesus is something that we must “choose” to be actively involved in; we must be willing to be “changed” from what we “are” into what He “is”.
To accomplish this, God has placed His Holy Spirit within us; His Presence in us brings every characteristic and attribute that makes Him God to be alive in us. He comes to be alive in us to enable, equip, and empower us to become like Jesus; IF we choose for our life to follow His “pre-approved” plan. In order for “His pre-approved plan” to come to pass in our lives, we have to “get in step” with that plan and make choices that are conducive to and cooperative with His direction for us.
God has a “Destiny” that He has “pre-approved” for us. We can “choose” to accept His direction and His Presence and empowerment for our lives, or we can carve out another “destiny” of our choosing.
*** Fred Wilson *** is an author, former coach, teacher and Life and Liberty News Contributor
