Sitting in the driver’s seat of our lives we often assume that some things may happen, no matter what. Meanwhile, the concept of free will states that life happens to us at our discretion, the random choices we make are uninfluenced by anything called destiny or karma. Let’s face it, life is a combination of fate, which may be present in our lives but, inevitably, we need to utilize our own free will in order to fulfill our potential.

A bit of theological waxing here as I share my view that fate rules out free will which can be called fatalism; I feel that it is definitely possible to believe in fate without being a fatalist. There are truths about all of the future actions one performs but, in doing so, there is free will. But, many find fatalism quite plausible. One one hand, predestination is demonstrative of an external determination of an action from a rational human being. Fatalisam, well, that is from an irrational one.

Some believe that lives and likewise choices are predetermined, others feel that humans are responsible for their own actions. Enter predestination where many of us have been taught that it has been written by God. What is to happen in the future determines if that path will take us to heaven or hell. Bring on that free will and we choose to do as we desire, even as God looks down, knowing the past, present and future all at once. He already knows what we will do in the future but this does not mean that He controls it all. Not always.

Personally, I believe in free will but not completely in predestination in a similar sense. Years ago, I made a decision to avoid a situation which saved my then future husband from serious injury or death. As much as I still feel that choice was mine, I’ve been taught to believe that God already knew back then, that choice was part of His plan and He continues to know the choices we will make. We may feel the choice is ours but His knowledge dictates the game plan ahead to get the predetermined end result in motion, even if we won’t play along.

Ah yes, those choices, simple enough but they come with certain consequences. Those who choose free will, and follow His commandments, are predestined to receive salvation. Those who choose not to follow are predestined to the “lake of fire”.

Follow or not, we are all just puppets on His string.