What is the river of humanity illustration in this teaching?
The illustration pictures humanity as a river flowing since Adam. Along its banks are doors of opportunity marked “Whosoever will may come.” A person who passes through looks back and sees “Chosen in Him” before the world was created, holding human decision and divine election together by faith.
Les teaches that Scripture presents two facts he cannot fully explain: Christ died for every man, and God is not willing that any should perish, yet believers were chosen before the foundation of the world. He lets both stand by faith. His river-of-humanity illustration shows the human race flowing like old man river since Adam, with doors of opportunity along the banks. The front of the door says, “Whosoever will may come.” When a person goes through that door and looks back, the other side of the top of the door says, “Chosen in Him” before the world was ever created. Les says we must decide for ourselves, but the moment we decide, God says, “I chose you.”