Dear Jeff,

Our editor, Jim Patterson, answered this question in his article “Blessed for His Namesake” in the Spring 2013 issue. It basically explains that He purposed in Himself to be glorified. The Family of God has come about to fulfill that purpose, not being the original purpose. It contains quite a few scriptures illustrating this.

My approach was to go to the end of the Bible to see how God wants things to turn out in the end. There certainly are many verses there talking about the glorification. Four living creatures appear to glorify him continually (Revelation 4:8).

But I think the scripture also shows us that He had essentially the same goals and aspirations that righteous people have throughout the centuries. They want intimate relationships with a family and friends—they want children of their own. God put that desire in us because it was in Him.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).

This seems very clear to me. God wants to live with a happy family! Indeed, he may be thinking about billions or trillions of people compared to the dozen that we would consider a big family. We can look to the vast number of stars in space or the grains of sand on the sea shore to see that God thinks much bigger than we do (Genesis 22:17; Hebrews 11:12).

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:5-8)

God declares the end from the beginning. He knew exactly what his goals were at the beginning and is able to bring them to pass. He made the “fountain of life” to give to those who will take it. Even so, He has left some of the decision-making in our hands. It says “He who overcomes shall inherit….” We must choose to do the overcoming, though all the power we need to do that is available in Jesus Christ (John 15:4-7; 2 Corinthians 3:4-5; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 6:10)

While some believers may have trouble with this concept, the Bible never claims that God knows what each person will do before they do it. Rather, He tests mankind to see what they will do in certain situations:

 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings (Jeremiah 17:10).

There are many other Scriptures that show this principle (Genesis 22:12; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 7:9; 17:3; Jeremiah 11:20; 20:12; Rev 2:23). Many other scriptures promise judgment for our actions (Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17). How could God judge us if he already knew all that we would do in advance? If God already knows every sin we will commit before we will commit it, is there any way we could avoid committing them? Rather, the Bible teaches that there are some sins that God never thought people would commit (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35).

While God may give us free will much of the time so that He may know our hearts, He also reserves the right to defeat that free will in any manner he desires to stop us from ruining His plan.

There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel — that will stand (Proverbs 19:21).

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” (Daniel 4:35).

The Creator of the Universe is able to carry out His awesome master plan for His children, in spite of anything anyone might do! Let each person seek Him to learn more about His plan for us as a people and each one of us individually! Let us become one of the children He loves!!