He makes sure we get wherever we choose to go.

The Word for today:
John 12:37-50

A few days ago, we looked at what role miracles play in the formation of faith. That article concluded:

The problem is not with the evidence we have. The problem is that when we don't want to believe, we will find a way not to believe. We will even find a way to disbelieve our very eyes. Hearts that will not see will not see. We take Jesus at his Word, or we take him not at all:
If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone should rise from the dead.

Today, with that thought as our background, we will explain a thorny "problem" in scripture: Does God harden hearts?

Let's look at John 12:37:
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

But three verses later, it looks like it's God's fault!--
Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them." (12:39-40)

What's going on is that those who would not believe in 12:37 could not believe in 12:40.
But all that God does between 12:37 and 12:40 is ratify their choices. The Bible calls it 'hardening their hearts.'

There will not be a person in hell who, in one way or another, has not chosen to be there. It is not by God's choice that anyone will be found there:
The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost (2 Peter 3:9).

God backs up our choices, whatever those choices may be. He delivers the consequences we choose. He makes sure we get wherever we choose to go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~