If Lucifer Can Be Expelled From Heaven, Why Not the Redeemed?
In an online forum back in September, a young man had the following question (here is our brief back-and-forth):
Him:
If Lucifer can fall from 'heaven', why wouldn't it be possible for the redeemed to do the same, unless you take away that freedom?
(Now, notwithstanding that Lucifer was expelled and did not "fall," I was more interested in addressing the issue of human freedom. Like my previous post, this was an open question with many responses; this was just my take on the issue.)
Me:
Free will is essential to being a human being. We do not lose what is essential to us upon our glorification in the afterlife. We are still morally free creatures; it is the only environment in which true love can flourish. And God wants us to love Him for who He is, like any one of us wants. Coerced love is not love at all; true, authentic love must involve a choice. So if we are still morally free creatures, what IS different in our glorified state? It is the object of our inclination. Augustine wrote about the inward curve, humanity curved in upon itself. I want to say I have also heard it phrased something like “the human heart turned like a fish hook in on itself,” but I can't seem to find the reference. The point is that in our fallen state man’s will is inclined toward self. In the afterlife, our wills will be inclined toward their proper object, God. So while we are morally free, we are no longer inclined toward sin; we are no longer inclined toward self. We are perfected in the afterlife. For example, our love for God and for one another is perfect. And everything that is essential to being a human being created in the image of God is also perfected. We don’t lose what is essential to us. Free will is essential to us. And like I said, our perfect free wills will be inclined toward God and away from sin once we are glorified after our deaths.
His Follow-Up to My Response:
Does the inclination guarantee an eternity of never falling again?
My Reply:
Short answer, yes. Without getting into what could be a novel in itself, suffice it to say we will find in God our All-in-All. He will be complete and perfect fulfillment for us. We will be made complete, lacking nothing, and fully redeemed. We will never suffer disease, death or heartache. Most importantly, we will be in the presence of God, communing with Him forever and ever in perfect, unbroken relationship. There will be nothing lacking that we could possibly seek or desire outside Him. We will love and worship him in perfection. At the risk of sounding New Age-ish or hippy-ish, we, the creature, will be in perfect harmony with the Creator, as it is meant to be. I wish I was more eloquent, but just try to imagine the utter joy of perfect fulfillment, perfect harmony - a perfection of existence that lacks NOTHING. Imagine knowing exactly who you are without an ounce of self-doubt. Imagine no more existential questions or dread. And let's not forget that even in our wildest imaginations of the afterlife, Scripture assures us that we ain't seen nothing yet: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 2:9) Infinity hung itself on the cross to redeem and to reconcile the finite and fallen. Once in God's presence, there will just be no way that we, in our glorified/perfected state, could do anything less than completely love, adore and worship Him. Rebellion will not even be the remotest possibility. BUT, it will not be because we are made into some kind of automaton; it will be because it is simply inconceivable to us. The only thing (or Person) that will tempt or draw us will be the ONE THING that SHOULD tempt/draw us - God. Sin or rebellion no longer will. And we will be co-rulers with Christ! How awesome is that? Luke 12:32 says, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Scripture is replete with verses testifying to the fact that we will reign with Christ and judge the world (Dan. 7:18, 27; Luke 12:32, 42, 19:17; Rev. 2:26, 29; 1 Cor, 6:2; Mat. 12:41).