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The Harmony of Wills

By Aby Kuruvilla Mumbai

At the seat of all the decisions we make, is our will. While our circumstances might influence our decisions, we are ultimately responsible for the exercise of our will. We are not puppets without a will of our own. We are morally capable of having a will of our own and will be held accountable for our decisions since we are created in God’s own image.

When parents ask their children to obey them, they are actually asking the child to align his or her will with theirs. When the child does this willingly, we may well call that submission. Submission is not so much one’s bending of knees as one’s bending of will.

Our Example

We see a perfect example of submission in the Lord Jesus Christ. He, though being God Himself, submitted to the will of His Father. He said, “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). He also said in another place, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and finish his work” (John 4:34). He always sought and did the will of the Father.

In the hours before he was arrested and crucified, we see Him in exceeding sorrow, praying to His Father saying, “Thy will be done” (Matt. 26:42). He fully knew aforehand the horrendous way in which He would suffer. Yet, His will was in complete harmony with the Father’s will! There was no trace of resistance in Him. He finished the work, died on the cross, and rose again on the third day.

Man’s Will

In contrast to the perfect submission of the Son, we see a failure in mankind to submit to God. We are at enmity with God due to our sins. In an inharmonious relationship, one cannot please the other until the issue causing the separation is dealt with.

Today, mankind has devised many ways to try to please God; they bring their religion and good works thinking that these will give them salvation. However, these are nothing more than getting them further from the will of God.

God’s Will

“God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). He has perfected the way of salvation through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other names under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). God’s will is that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.

God’s will is good, perfect, and supreme for all mankind. It is therefore required of man to submit themselves to the will of God in order to be in a harmonious relationship with Him.

Our Destiny

When we do not do that, we are found living in rebellion. God does not coerce us nor does He force us into submitting to His will. He instead solemnly exhorts us, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts”. He warns us to put away unbelief, “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:7, 8, 13).

A day of judgment is approaching when God will hold us accountable for all our decisions. If we have rejected His plan of salvation, we will receive the wages of our sins, which is eternal damnation. Nevertheless, those who have submitted to His will by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ have peace with God and enjoy a harmonious relationship with Him leading even unto eternity.