“Today If You Hear God’s Word Do Not Harden Your Hearts!”

“Today If You Hear God’s Word Do Not Harden Your Hearts!”(Ez.3:22-27).
The debate on predestination is perennial. This is because predestination includes freewill as well as election.
Scriptures say, “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.”(Rom.8:29).
We are not delving into any serious theological or philosophical reflection on predestination, freewill, and election.
However, today’s passage suggests that such a reflection is necessary. “Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: ‘… when I speak to you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says. Whoever will listen, let them listen, and whoever will refuse, let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.” The Sovereign Lord is already aware that by freewill, some will prefer damnation over grace. If the Lord was to force grace on all humanity, freewill will not be free anymore.
God’s grace is for all humanity(Jn.3:16), but by freewill, each person makes a choice.
Yet if each person has a choice, it means an all-knowing God already predestined those who merit salvation.
Those who come to Jesus are those the Father had selected for salvation. If that is so, is there any reason to struggle to enter by the narrow gate that leads to salvation?
There are more questions than answers, and this leads us to still another polemic: theodicy. There are some questions only God can answer. We humans are limited in all our wisdom, knowledge, and understanding!
Like Dora Greenwell “I am not skilled to understand what God had willed, what God had planned. I only know at his right hand stands one who is my Ssvior…”
One thing is clear: the messenger with a message from God has the duty of passing the message. If you want to listen, then listen, but if you refuse to listen, it is your choice. But know that choices have consequences!
Our prayer is that “today, if you hear God’s word, do not harden your hearts. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
12/06/2026.