Foreknowledge

“A thing does not come to pass because it has been foreknown or foretold; but it is foreknown and foretold because it is yet to come to pass.”

- The Works of Jacobus Arminius

“God is omniscient and knows everything. He has known everything from the beginning. Nothing is a surprise to God, nor does He ever come into possession of new knowledge. “  

- J.P. McBeth, Theologian

The idea of God’s foreknowledge is almost incomprehensible.

The thought that God lives outside of space and time, already knowing everything before it ever takes place, is mind-blowing. Candidly, I struggle with wrapping my head around it.

One of my favorite passages in all of the Old Testament is Psalm 139, verses 13-16, where King David writes,

For you created my inmost being;

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

   your works are wonderful,

   I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

   when I was made in the secret place,

   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

   all the days ordained for me were written in your book

   before one of them came to be.

- Psalm 139:13-16

God not only knew me before I was a twinkle in my parents’ eyes, He “foreknew” all the days ordained for me in this life.

Which means He also knew, way before it ever happened, that on a specific day in AD 226, a baby would be born and named Valentius. This baby would grow up to become a Catholic priest and stand up against the emperor of Rome to secretly perform Christian weddings (which allowed the husbands to escape inscription into the pagan army, as only single men were ordered to serve). It is then said that Valentius would cut hearts from parchment and give them to the men to remind them of their marriage vows. And the amazing thing is that God “foreknew” even this would happen, for in Ephesians 2:10, the Apostle Paul tells us:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

- Ephesians 2:10

God had already prepared Valentius for the good works he would do, but it is important to recognize that Valentius was not forced to do these good works; it was a choice of volition on his part.

He had complete free will to do as he desired, yet God “foreknew” what he would do. That, my friends, is a theological conundrum, but one that works for me, for deep in my heart, I can reconcile that God can “know” without violating my free will.

Valentius would later be martyred by the emperor of Rome for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and was executed on February 14, 269.

A little over 200 years later, in AD 496, Pope Gelasius I established the Feast of Saint Valentine, also known as St. Valentine’s Day.

Friends, just like Valentius, God has a plan for you.

And while He “foreknows” what you will do, may we be a people of God who “choose” to do the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do. And while God “foreknows” all the days ordained for us before one of them comes to be, may we live out our lives to bring glory and honor to His Name.

May we be reminded this Valentine’s Day to uphold our marriage vows and celebrate God’s unconditional love for us. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pastor Ken

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