Free Will versus The Sovereignty of God

A couple of days ago we had a great tragedy here in Springfield Township/Holland, Ohio...two of our high school students were struck by an Amtrak train. One of the kids was killed and another was severly injured. The kids were trying to hustle to school because of the cold. They went under the train barrier and took a chance. Some have said that God took the young man. The young girl is recovering and so she was spared. But is that really what happens at the cosmic level? Does God actively make those choices about taking us or leaving us? One of the classic differences in beliefs among Christians is this dance between free will and the sovereignty of God. God gave the human race free will to choose His way or to reject Him. God allows us to make choices that have grave consequences. He placed into creation gravity and other forces of nature that have their attendant laws and principles.
Some people are wondering whether the young man is in heaven looking down on us...continuing his love for life for all eternity. I hope the young man knew the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior. Unfortunately we cannot know what the state of his soul was. There are hints given by those who knew him best that he was not a religious person of faith. I pray that in the moment that the train bore down on him that he made a choice for Christ. I do not have that assurance. Psalm 90 tells us to get a heart of wisdom as we deal with time because we cannot know how long we have to live. Those of us who are left alive can make a choice for God. That is what God wants for us. The devil would like for us to reject God because of what happened.
It was not God's will for those two young people to go through that accident. God allowed it to happen because two young people, with free will, took a chance, made a choice and misjudged what was about to happen. Their choice, not God's will, caused this accident. Now, God will and can use what the devil means for evil and turn it into good. People can, and I pray that they will, turn to God in large numbers because of this tragedy. People can learn lessons about choices made and turn from the way that they have been living to a better lifestyle. Others may accept the devil's momentary pleasure and turn to alcohol or drugs to make it through this tragedy. There will be consequences for us all. We are people of free will and that is how God made us.
These two young people went past a barrier that was meant to keep them safe. These two young people ignored the flashing lights meant to warn them of danger. These two young people made a choice and a terrible mistake...an error that was very costly. These two young people did what many young and older people do on a daily basis...blow past warning signs and things that God has given us to help us to live. They were not bad kids. They were good kids. They were dedicatedd athletes, students and friends who made a difference in the lives of those around them. The girl, God willing gets a chance to live through this and to go on to a long and successful life. If it is true that the young man pushed her to safety (as some have said), she will get that chance by God's grace and by the caring and brave act of a really good kid. I hope and pray that she will use her free will to seek God and to live for Him with all the strength that she has. She is greatly loved by many. That will be her free will and God's grace coming together. Unfortunately, there are no extra chances for the young man. His chances for salvation ended when the train ended his life. I pray that in the mercy and grace of God that he did know the Lord as savior and that his eternity is secure.
These are hard words for a parent to write. They are particularly hard when your own daughter died earlier in the year and you pray that she was alright with God. Use your free will to seek God now. Learn what warning signs God places all around us and obey them for your own good. Love one another. Love God. Choose life.