What does Les do when he cannot explain election and free will in Romans 8?
When unable to reconcile election and free will, he does not force an explanation. He lets both facts stand in Scripture by faith, accepting what God has said and letting God settle the controversy. He illustrates it with a river of humanity and a door: “Whosoever will may come” in front, “chosen in Him” behind.
Les explains that he cannot explain the two facts of Scripture—that Christ died for every man and that believers were chosen before the foundation of the world. Rather than resolve the tension, he lets them set in Scripture by faith, saying, “This is what God has said, and I’m going to let Him settle the controversy.” He recalls putting it on the board years ago: the river of humanity has flowed since Adam, and along its banks are doors of opportunity. The front of the door says, “Whosoever will may come.” When a person goes through, he looks back and sees on the other side of the top of the door, “Chosen in Him” before the world was ever created. Les says he cannot put it any better, because that is exactly the way it is. We must decide for ourselves, yet the moment we decide, God says, “I chose you.”