I think that it is a well-known understanding among us humans that we don't like, for the most part, ambiguity. We have a very difficult time being comfortable with and accepting concepts or ideas that are seemingly incongruent. In the Christian circle, there are many debates about God that are debated continually and still go unanswered.
For example, one such debate pertains to this issue of predestined and free will. How are we 100% responsible for our actions, choices, and beliefs, especially pertaining to salvation, if God is 100% in charge and orchestrates everything? How are we to intellectually and spiritually reconcile these seemingly opposing dichotomies?
I believe that looking at the life of Jesus will give us some helpful insight on these mysteries, for Jesus was a person that was torn between two natures and two worlds, the finite thoughts and life of men, and the omniscient thoughts and eternal existence of his divine nature. In a very simple but profound verse, we are given a picture of Jesus himself coming face to face with this issue. John 11:35, which is famous for being the shortest verse in the Bible, contains one sentence and two words: "Jesus wept." Faced with Lazarus' death, Jesus wept -- not a brief shedding of tears, but an overwhelming flood of grief over the death of his beloved friend.
Why would Jesus, who is omniscient, and who was fully aware before the beginning of time of Lazarus' impending resurrection, be grief-stricken over the news of Lazarus' death? Should not his response been different? Should he not have remained composed and unaffected by the news since he knew that Lazarus would soon be resurrected? No. In his omniscience and power to resurrect the dead he still was engulfed in the real grief of a finite world. What an incredibly beautiful picture of Jesus' humanity and divinity unfolding so delicately and perfectly!
Taking this picture of Jesus' response, I think we can apply it to assist us in reconciling our 100% responsibility and God's 100% orchestration. Are we morally responsible to believe in the truth of the Gospel and accept the salvation offered by God? Yes. Or, does God predestine us to be saved, meaning that it was not our choice? Yes. Are the two congruent? Yes and no. Does it make sense? Not really...well, maybe ... a little, sort of. Praise the Lord we don't understand it completely. God's knowledge and wisdom is infinitely inexhaustible. If we should ever understand our God fully, then he is no God at all. As we spend eternity with him, we will come to a deeper and greater understanding of these mysteries, and yet, at the same time, not even begin to scratch the surface. Isn't it wonderful and beautiful? I think so.
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