Free Will?

The non-saved like to claim “free will” in that they can choose which brand of automobile they want, its color, and the amenities, as long as they can pay the price.  They think they have free will to choose which restaurant or shirt or church they want.  They think they have free will to marry whom they want and work where they want.  But they don’t!  They exercise a will but it is not free, rather it is in bondage – in bondage to the mind.  And the mind is not free either but captured by a host of things that render it unable to think freely.

Consider…

1. The mind is dark (Eph 4:18) and even dead (Eph 2:1) to God’s will and the light.

Therefore, men love darkness over the light (John 3:19).

They are in bondage to the philosophy of Satan – “you will be like gods knowing good and evil.”  They are as Satan in that they are about their will and have both a right to their will and the authority to execute it – so they think! (Satan: I will, I will, I will, I will, and I will, Isaiah 14:13-14)

Men reject the idea of a God who created it all, controls it all, and demands obedience (Rom 1:20).

2. The mind is a product of DNA – the life chain created at conception – and has absolutely no control over its make-up or its power.

For some, the DNA produced mind is impressive (Einstein) or the 4.0 student in every class in every year, but for most there is the grim reality that smarts are lacking.

3. The mind is limited by what it knows!  And what does it know?  Actually, not much!

It doesn’t even come remotely close to seeing the world and life as does God (Isaiah 55:8).

It is severely limited to information received for processing per its environment – where the person lives (its “hood”, money, government), what is viewed (heard or read), what is experienced (trauma such as deaths, emergencies, rejections), and what is believed and taught by loved ones (parents, friends, teachers, coaches).

4. The mind is influenced, even controlled, by emotions such as guilt, shame, fear, and anger.  The mind is actually unable to give inputs free of those powers.
5. The mind is selfish – “Me!”, “I!”, “Mine!”  It can’t help it!  It is about #1.  Or it might serve or labor among those in great poverty or pain, but there is a self-serving pride driving it.  There is the idea that merit is being gained so that if there is a God, He will have to bless them.

So, the will of natural man is only free to function within the confines of the mind that controls it.  And how free is that will?  Not very.  In fact, only slightly.  Sure, pick your car color or food preference, but even those are limited by past experiences, money, and image desires.

The bottom line is that while “natural man” (those not saved) is all about freedom – free will – he is actually a slave in great bondage.  His idea of free will is just that, an idea.  He clings to his free will because the alternative is simply abhorrent to him – to submit to another’s will – especially that of God!  But that is in essence the difference between the unsaved and the saved.  The thinking about the will – “My will or His will?” (Matthew 26:39)  Humm?  “That is the question!”

Does man persist to cling to his free will that fails to give hope, peace, joy or real value to life or does he bow the knee to God and be bound to His will – take His yoke and thus go where He wills and at His pace.  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.

Whose will is your will?  Yours or His?  If His, you are not free but His child under His rule.

I hear someone complaining, “Wait, Jesus is about freedom (John 8:36) and liberty (Galatians 5:1).”  Yes!  Those five areas above are what you are freed from – now freed to serve, sacrifice, and worship!