Does God know the future?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines future as: "...the time that is still to come", but time is a concept developed by human beings to mark the progression of events on Earth. God is outside of time. He dwells in Eternity. He always was, always will be, and always remains the same. This is a mystery that we cannot understand; it is not contrary to logic, it is beyond logic.

Does God know the future? Yes, of course. From God's vantage point, time does not exist. He can see past, present and future all at once. He is above all and present to all.

The human mind lacks the ability to grasp this concept; a microbe has a better chance of understanding human behavior than we do of visualizing God's relationship to what we know as time. When we get to heaven, it is just one of the things we'll finally be able to comprehend.

Discussions on this matter often turn into considerations of the matter of predestination. If God can see the future, does He know when we're born, who will get to heaven and who won't? If so, why does He not send us directly to our final destination? Why make us struggle through life on earth only to end up in the place He knew we would be going all along?

We need to remember that one of the gifts humans were given was that of free will. We have the ability to choose good and reject evil. God did not create people to be puppets.

We were also endowed with a conscience, an inner voice which guides us to make the right choices. Even those humans who live in isolated societies instinctively know that it's wrong to kill another person, or to steal from your neighbor. Those of us who come from religious backgrounds have the advantage of clearer instructions, but God takes all the circumstances into consideration.

The point is, we choose our final destination for ourselves. God does not send anyone to hell. By our consistent choices of evil over good, of refusing to repent and to make amends for the wrong thoughts and actions, we each determine our own final destiny.

This is why we must spend our time on earth. Even though God knows all along where we will spend Eternity, we are given the opportunity to exercise the free will He has given us.

Does God know the future? Yes, God does. He also respects and loves humans, the creatures who are made in His image and likeness. He honors the free will they possess. He takes pleasure in sharing with them the beauty of the earth and the glories of the skies. Even though He knows where bad choices will lead them, He gives them every chance to repent, and in so doing achieve eternal life with Him in heaven.

Unfortunately for some, everything God does, every chance He gives them, is not enough.