Does Free-will really exist? Part 2

For the next point I would like to mention that despite all the efforts and good works that Josiah performed, there was still the problem of past sins committed by their fathers or past kings.

For instance there was King Ahaz and his poor performance record.

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.” 2Ch 28:1-4

And there was Manasseh and his poor performance record.

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” 2Ch 33:1-3, 6

And there was King Amon and the record of his poor performance.

“Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.” 2Ch 33:21-25

There are numerous more that sinned against Jehovah God and there those who did it right in the sight of the LORD. It is all recorded and in many places throughout the Scriptures. My point to all this is to bring out the choices that all of these men were presented with. Did they really act upon Free-will or were they motivated by Satan and his demons to perform these atrocious acts of child sacrifice and Idol worship?

I feel at this time we tend to get the terms a little confused and don’t realize what we say and what we really mean by it. For instance, I had a young lady to remark to me she didn’t believe that we did not have and exercise a free will and rejected any idea that we respond to the whims and wishes of the supernatural spirit world. Of course, with no success, I tried to explain to her that, yes, we have and are presented with a plethora of choices all the daylong but, just who is it that is presenting the choices?

The long and short of it is that we are maneuvered all day, every day by forces unbeknownst to us most of the time. There are those who do recognized and expound upon the fact that there are demonic spirit forces driving us to perform their desires for us, such as the accepted witches of our day and those who are spiritually wise by the way of wisdom from God. Some spirits are very powerful and some, not so powerful as to give us a choices in the matter. Any way we look at it, if it appeases the flesh, we will perform magnificently for the demonic spirit world, but on the other hand, if we are to perform for the Holy God of the universe, performance requires His power to perform those things He desires of each of us. Whether we accept it or not, the truth is, we are at war over our very souls, every day we live. God’s power and Holy Angel’s battle over us every day and Satan has proved to be a most worthy opponent in this battle.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:12-13