Introduction
The figure below is a rudimentary illustration of free-will within predestination framework. God is all-knowing, so knows all paths – knowing all paths means His design of our life journey is permuted. Permutation refers the number of ways a particular life journey can be chosen and taken. Within God's predestined permutation for each individual, the individual has free-will. Thus, a person can start in an upright manner and continue in that vein throughout life. Some may start the journey well, and then deviate from the truth towards the end. Some may start the journey badly, and then see the light towards the end.
Main Points: Joshua 24:14-15
- Choose Whom You Will Serve: "Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
- Consequences of obeying God: Hebrews 11:24-26 : By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
- Consequences of Disobeying God: Genesis 2:16-17 : And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Read also Romans 5:15-17 ).
Memory Verse
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord— Romans 6:23
The reward that an individual gets from living an unrighteous life is eventual spiritual death, and so condemnation in hell. The reward that an individual gets from living a Christ-like life is the gift of eternal life in heaven.