The Fine Print: But Why Though?
- Mar 17
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 19
Free Will Was Always Part of the Plan
The Big Question: Why Did God Let It Happen?
Have you ever wondered—if God knows everything before it happens, why did He allow Adam to eat from the tree in the Garden of Eden? A great question.
The answer is found in one profound truth: love requires choice. If love is forced, it ceases to be love. Free will wasn’t just an option—it was the foundation of God’s relationship with humanity.
But this leads to an even deeper question: If God knew Adam would sin, does that mean it was predestined to happen? Or did God simply foreknow it?
There’s an important distinction between foreknowledge and predestination—one that shapes our understanding of God's love, justice, and sovereignty.
Let’s pause for a moment.
Before we go any further, let’s invite God into this moment. Understanding His ways isn’t just about gaining knowledge—it’s about drawing closer to Him.
Lord, we come before You with open hearts and minds, ready to receive what You want to reveal. We ask for fresh insight, a new understanding of Your character, and wisdom beyond what we’ve known before. Let Your Word come alive in us, sparking thoughts we may have never considered. Speak to us in a way that transforms, and help us to see You more clearly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Foreknowledge vs. Predestination: What’s the Difference?
Foreknowledge means that God, outside of time, already knows what will happen. He sees every choice we will make, but His knowledge does not force us to make those choices.
Predestination, on the other hand, suggests that God has determined certain events beforehand and that human choices unfold according to His sovereign plan.
So, did God predestine Adam to sin? No. God foreknew that Adam would sin, but He did not force his hand. This is why God had a redemption plan in place from the very beginning—because love, real love, allows choice. And even when we choose wrongly, God has already made a way for us to be restored.
Let’s look at the fine print.
Foreknowledge: God Knew, But You Still Have a Choice
God’s foreknowledge is not control—it’s awareness. He knows the paths we will take, but He still gives us the freedom to walk them. Love, after all, requires choice. And while He already sees our choices, He still calls us to choose Him.
🔹 Isaiah 46:9-10 (CSB) – "Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will."
👉 This verse reminds us that God sees everything—past, present, and future. He knows how things will unfold, yet He doesn’t force our choices. Instead, He invites us to seek His will and align our lives with His purpose.
We often wonder, "God, what is Your will for my life?" But have we actually stopped to ask Him?
Reflection:
A few weeks ago, I shared about my journey in college. Now here I am, writing this blog—something I never imagined I would be doing. If you know me personally, you know that sharing the Gospel has always been part of my life. But for a long time, I wasn’t moving in full obedience. I was doing what seemed right but not necessarily what God was directing me to do.
That’s when I started asking Him about everything—big and small. I even ask, "Jesus, what nail polish should I get?" It may seem insignificant, but making a habit of seeking His voice in the little things has strengthened my ability to hear Him in the big ones.
So, let me challenge you: Why not ask Him what His plan is for you? When we practice daily communion with God, we don’t have to second-guess whether we’re hearing the right voice when trials come. We already know His voice because we’ve been walking with Him every day.
🔹 1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) – "To those chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you."
👉 This verse highlights that believers are chosen based on God’s foreknowledge, meaning He already knew who would respond to His call. Yet, His choosing is not random—it is deeply connected to His divine plan of redemption.
🔹 Deuteronomy 30:19 – "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live."
Friend, do you see it? God is not forcing your hand—He is inviting you to choose. He lays out the path before you, making it clear that one leads to life and the other to destruction. But the decision? That’s yours to make.
Now, I know what you’re thinking—of course, you and I wouldn’t just pick the option that has ‘death’ written on it. But here’s the thing: death is often disguised. It doesn’t always look dark and dangerous. Sometimes, it looks familiar. Comfortable. Even good.
For me, that disguised death was people-pleasing. I thought saying "yes" to everything made me a light for Christ. I wanted people to know Jesus loved them, so I sacrificed my boundaries, my peace, and, honestly, my own well-being just to make others happy. I thought that was what being kind meant. But I was caught in religion, not relationship.
Then I read Matthew 5:37 – "Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’"
That hit me. It’s okay to say no. My constant "yes" was killing me on the inside. What I thought was life—serving, helping, making others happy—was actually draining me spiritually. I was choosing something that looked right but wasn’t right for me.
So, friend, what’s your disguised death? What’s the thing you’re so close to that you can’t even see how it’s pulling you away from life?
God is not just asking us to choose between obvious good and evil. He’s asking us to discern—to recognize the things that might look like life but are leading us toward spiritual emptiness.
The choice is yours, but His heart is for you to choose life.
Predestination: God's Sovereign Plan is Unfolding as He Ordained
Think of a GPS navigation system. The destination is set, the route is mapped out, and the best path is already determined. Every turn and roadblock has been accounted for, guiding you toward where you’re meant to be. Even when you take a detour, the GPS recalculates—always leading you back to the intended destination. In the same way, God’s plan remains steady, no matter the twists and turns life takes.
🔹 Ephesians 1:4-5 – "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will."
Let’s pause and just take this in… He chose us.
Oh God, thank You. Thank You!
Friend, do you realize what this means? You are not overlooked. You are not forgotten. You are not just another name in the crowd—you are handpicked by God Himself.
This is bigger than being the first-round draft pick, greater than being chosen as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and far beyond being voted most popular in high school.
Because here’s the difference—those positions require you to prove yourself. But with Yahweh, you and I were chosen before the foundation of the world.
Before we took a breath. Before we made a mistake. Before we did anything—He had already called us His.
Wow. Thank You, Jesus. That truth brings tears of joy to my eyes.
Alright, alright—let’s get back to the lesson. But don’t lose sight of this: You. Are. Chosen.
👉 This verse shows that God had already planned for salvation through Christ before the world began. His purpose is not random—it is unfolding exactly as He ordained. His plan was always for us to be adopted into His family, wrapped in His love, and secured in His grace. You were always meant to be His.
🔹 Romans 8:29-30 – "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified."
Have you ever seen identical twins who look so much alike that even their iPhone’s face recognition can’t tell them apart? That’s the goal—to look so much like Christ in our character and speech that when the world sees us, they see Him.
👉 You and I are predestined to be image bearers of Christ.
Romans 8:29-30 reminds us that God’s plan has always been to shape us into the likeness of His Son. From the very beginning, He knew us, called us, justified us, and is glorifying us—refining us until we fully reflect Jesus.
The world should recognize Christ through our actions, love, and character. That’s what it means to be conformed to His image. And friend, that’s exactly what you were destined to become.
Conclusion: How These Two Work Together
From the very beginning, God knew you. His foreknowledge means He has seen every moment of your life—your highs, your failures, your choices—without ever forcing your hand. He didn’t write the script for you, but He knows how your story unfolds.
At the same time, predestination reveals His greater purpose—that you would become an image-bearer of Christ. Like an artist shaping a masterpiece, He is molding you into something greater than you could imagine. You were always meant to reflect Jesus, to be set apart, to walk in His love.
But love—real love—requires freedom.
So, why did God let it happen? Why did He allow Adam to eat the fruit? Why does He allow us to choose paths that lead to brokenness? Because without choice, there is no love.
Please don’t just read this and move on.
I pray this truth takes up residency in your heart—that it shifts the way you see yourself, speak about yourself, and walk in the identity God has given you.
👉 You are an image-bearer of Christ.
Let that sink in.
This truth has the power to break cycles of doubt and insecurity. It has the power to push you to claim what is rightfully yours in Christ instead of settling for the enemy’s lies.
Here’s the good news—when we choose wrong, He has already made a way back.
This is the beauty of the Gospel. God didn’t just create a plan and hope we’d figure it out. He sent Jesus—the very image we were meant to reflect—to redeem and restore what was lost. Every misstep, every failure, every detour—He accounted for it all.
And yet, the invitation remains:
👉 Will you step into the identity you were predestined for?
👉 Will you reflect Christ so clearly that the world sees Him in you?
Friend, you were always meant to be His. Not by force. Not by accident. But by love.
And that truth changes everything.
You have a choice. What will you do with it?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being so loving. Thank You for Your supreme wisdom and gentle, unwavering love. Thank You for Your faithfulness.
Your Word says that You have predestined my life and called me to be an image-bearer of Christ. But Lord, I confess—there have been times when I didn’t see myself this way. I’ve doubted, hesitated, and allowed the wrong voices to shape my identity. Please forgive me.
Yet, despite my doubts, You still chose me. Thank You for calling me Your child. I am ready to walk in the fullness of Your will.
I want to trust Your guidance, Lord. Your Word says You are all-seeing and all-knowing, so in this moment, I pause and ask: "Lord, what is Your will for my life in this season?"
I choose to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd. Silence every other voice—every distraction, every lie, every fear that tries to lead me away from You.
Thank You, Jesus. I trust You. I surrender. It is so.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
