Does Free-will really exist?

I have been studying in the book of II Chronicle’s chapters 34 and 35 of lately and have discovered some most astounding Bible truths. This is the recording of the installation of a new king named Josiah. King Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign and reined for thirty-one years. I was quite amazed when it dawned on me that this lad and his life was recorded for posterities’ sake so you and I could go back to it and glean the truths of Scripture. It wasn’t enough to say that just his most noble deeds were recorded while he was alive, but goes even deeper and further to record the integrity in which he carried out his deeds. It speaks volumes about an individual when the details are carefully integrated throughout the writings for example verse 2 which states:

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.” 2Ch 34:2

It is concise no doubt, but for the Word of God to have on record the moral stamina, integrity, and internal fortitude portrayed on just a few short sentences is most amazing. This scripture is examining Josiah’s entire life span in one sentence, astounding! I often wonder how it will be recorded of my life when I have passed off the earth. Could someone examine my life and record it in one sentence? Well, all I know is that God will have all the records on hand when I stand in front of Him at the Bema Seat of Judgment. My turn will most certainly come one day.

I feel that King Josiah was highly motivated to perform the right thing at all times, but where did this motivation come from? Verse 3 and 19 gives us a clue.

“For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.” 2Ch 34:3

“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.” 2Ch 34:19

You might be thinking by now, but Josiah sought God and therefore was motivated to do the right thing in his life. It just might seem that way but we have to compare precept upon precept to get to the truth. The fact is that no one seeks the LORD without first having been sought by God. There is ample Scripture to prove this point and this amazing verse adds it all up.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:10-11

So we can see clearly that it really wasn’t Josiah seeking after God but highly motivated by God to seek Him.

My firm belief is that the idea of Free-will and the omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign Jehovah God cannot co-exist.